plutonium 239

Definitions of plutonium 239

1. noun

   a highly fissionable isotope of plutonium that is used in atomic weapons and as a reactor fuel; produced by irradiating uranium 238 with slow electrons
   types:

   weapon-grade plutonium, weapons plutonium

   plutonium 239 that is recovered when nuclear weapons are disassembled; it is stored in plutonium pits

   type of:

   Pu, atomic number 94, plutonium

   a solid silvery grey radioactive transuranic element whose atoms can be split when bombarded with neutrons; found in minute quantities in uranium ores but is usually synthesized in nuclear reactors; 13 isotopes are known with the most important being plutonium 239