Plutonium (Pu) Fun Facts
"The Planet-Hopper, the hero who powers deep-space missions to the outer planets."
The true essence of Plutonium (Pu) on the molecular frontier.
Plutonium is a silvery-gray, radioactive metal.
Plutonium is found as the power source for deep-space probes like the Voyager spacecraft.
Plutonium powers the DeLorean�s flux capacitor in Back to the Future � at 1.21 gigawatts!
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Did You Know?
It was named after the dwarf planet Pluto, continuing the planetary theme after uranium and neptunium.
The 'Fat Man' atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945 used a core of plutonium-239.
The radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) that power deep space probes like the Voyager and Cassini spacecraft use the heat from the radioactive decay of plutonium-238.
It has the unusual property that its density increases as it is heated over a certain temperature range.
It is extremely toxic and radioactive, posing a significant health risk if inhaled or ingested.