INTRODUCTION
Neptunium is a radioactive metallic element, and one of the transuranium (elements that is after uranium on the periodic table) in the actinide series. It is a silvery metal that exists in at least three different crystalline forms.
Neptunium was named after the planet Neptune. It was produced by bombardment of uranium-238 with neutrons; the resultant uranium-239 decays radioactively by emitting a beta particle to form neptunium-239.
BASIC INFORMATIONS
- Atomic Number
- 93
- Atomic Mass
- 237
- Ionic radius
- 1.01
- Ionization energy
- N/A
- Electronic config
- 2,8,18,32,22,9,2
- Principal Valency
- +2
- Density g/cm³
- 20.5
- Melting point °C
- 637
- Boiling point °C
- 4000
- Type of Element
- Metal
- Electronegativity
- N/A
- Element Category
- Actinide series
- Appearance
- Silvery solid
- Block
- f-block
- Period
- 9
- Group
- 8
- No of Isotopes
- 20
- Occurrence
- Artificially Made
- Abundance in ppm
- Trace
- Year of Discovery
- 1940
EXTRACTION
It is obtain by electrolysis of its fused salts or reducing its halides with calcium
OXIDATION STATES
+7,+6,+5,+4,+3 (Amphoteric)
MAJOR SOURCE
It is formed from uranium fuel elements
HALF LIFE
2.2 million years
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
* It is used as a component in neutron detection devices.
* Neptunium is a useful research tool in the atomic bomb project and is used in studies of chemical reactivity.
* Neptunium isotope emits a beta particle, forming the important isotope plutonium-239.
