Plutonium
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Plutonium is a chemical element; it has symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is a silvery-gray actinide metal that tarnishes when exposed to air, and forms a dull coating when oxidized. The element norm
A sample of plutonium metal, shaped like a ring to prevent nuclear criticality
Various oxidation states of plutonium in solution
Plutonium pyrophoricity can cause it to look like a glowing ember under certain conditions.
Twenty micrograms of pure plutonium hydroxide
Chemical element
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A chemical element is a species of atom defined by its number of protons. The number of protons is called the atomic number of that element. For example, oxygen has an atomic number of 8: each oxygen
Metals (blue) and metalloids (green) in the periodic table
John Dalton's list of atomic weights & symbols, 1808
Estimated distribution of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. Only the fraction of the mass and energy labeled "atoms" is composed of elements.
Robert Boyle, c. 1740