Plutonium (Pu)

About Plutonium

Plutonium is a chemical element with the symbol Pu and atomic number 94, meaning every atom has 94 protons in its nucleus. It is classed as Actinide and is a solid at room temperature. Its atomic mass is about 244 atomic mass units (u).

On the periodic table, Plutonium sits in group 8, period 7 (actinide series), which determines how many electron shells it has and how it tends to react with other elements.

Uses of Plutonium

In daily life and industry, Plutonium is used for Nuclear fuel. These uses are closely tied to the typical properties of elements in the Actinide category.

Electron Structure of Plutonium

Using a simplified electron shell model (at most 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, 18 in the third, and so on), Plutonium has 6 electron shells, with an approximate arrangement of 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 2 electrons from the innermost shell to the outermost. This is a simplified learning model, not the full electron configuration that accounts for the s, p, d and f subshells.

Explore Other Elements

Want to see another element or try the element symbol quiz? Go back to the Interactive Periodic Table to explore all 118 chemical elements.

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