Plutonium Discovered more Harmful than Uranium Essay -- Scientific Res

There is no such thing as a â€Å"safe dose† of plutonium. While it was common to think that uranium was the most dangerous element on the periodic table a few decades ago, scientists have now discovered a more lethal element. Plutonium, Pu, element 94 on the periodic table is a transuranic radioactive chemical element; meaning it emits excess energy when it decays. Many previous studies on transuranic elements discovered uranium as the most deadly. Plutonium, recently reviewed by scientists, has also been found to emit alpha radiation, a highly hazardous type which is also emitted by Uranium. It has been concluded that plutonium has a higher radioactivity, hence a faster half-life. What is Radiation? Radiation is excess energy, which travels through space in the form of heat, light, sound, microwaves, radio waves and x-rays. Low radioactive substances can be found everywhere. When much more sophisticated elements are subject to decay, they release many types of radiation; the most common are alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays. Beta particles are negatively charged and small, allowing them to move fast and penetrate up to 2 centimetres of human skin. Gamma rays are high-energy waves, and can travel long distances and penetrate human skin. However, they can be blocked by concrete, led, metal or even water. Both beta and gamma rays are often found in most radioactive materials, while alpha particles appear in much more hazardous elements such as uranium and plutonium. Alpha Particles An alpha particle is a type an ionizing radiation, which emits particles, composed of two protons and two neutrons, without elections; giving it a net positive charge. The radiation is only effective if these alpha particles are e... ... used in fuels and nuclear power plants would not cause such a life-changing event, for those who live adjacent to neighbouring power plants. Only time will tell what the future will hold, but let’s all hope there’s a bright one ahead. Works Cited http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/1222-plutonium-more-dangerous-uranium.html http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/files/raduranmed.txt http://www.arpansa.gov.au/radiationprotection/basics/alpha.cfm http://orise.orau.gov/reacts/guide/alpha.htm http://www.uraniumsa.org/about/radiation.htm http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2011/04/03/impact-of-mox-fuel-at-fukushima/ http://www.imagesco.com/articles/geiger/fig1.jpg http://gothamist.com/attachments/nyc_arts_john/041211fukushima.jpg https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDlZX1dolL0cJjNHhD0H_FH6FXyuscFZeKYvQJ6qnwzZ0ZnM7S3BrGo9BGuLT0m5LR1XNPr8ubMGdU9JNMIphRuamDROiKIAzATsR2z8Xwk_-KIxdCpEArqc0qE4cGpSgWG89G_1YQX1G/s1600/reactor_smoke_G_20110323232127.jpg Plutonium Discovered more Harmful than Uranium Essay -- Scientific Res There is no such thing as a â€Å"safe dose† of plutonium. While it was common to think that uranium was the most dangerous element on the periodic table a few decades ago, scientists have now discovered a more lethal element. Plutonium, Pu, element 94 on the periodic table is a transuranic radioactive chemical element; meaning it emits excess energy when it decays. Many previous studies on transuranic elements discovered uranium as the most deadly. Plutonium, recently reviewed by scientists, has also been found to emit alpha radiation, a highly hazardous type which is also emitted by Uranium. It has been concluded that plutonium has a higher radioactivity, hence a faster half-life. What is Radiation? Radiation is excess energy, which travels through space in the form of heat, light, sound, microwaves, radio waves and x-rays. Low radioactive substances can be found everywhere. When much more sophisticated elements are subject to decay, they release many types of radiation; the most common are alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays. Beta particles are negatively charged and small, allowing them to move fast and penetrate up to 2 centimetres of human skin. Gamma rays are high-energy waves, and can travel long distances and penetrate human skin. However, they can be blocked by concrete, led, metal or even water. Both beta and gamma rays are often found in most radioactive materials, while alpha particles appear in much more hazardous elements such as uranium and plutonium. Alpha Particles An alpha particle is a type an ionizing radiation, which emits particles, composed of two protons and two neutrons, without elections; giving it a net positive charge. The radiation is only effective if these alpha particles are e... ... used in fuels and nuclear power plants would not cause such a life-changing event, for those who live adjacent to neighbouring power plants. Only time will tell what the future will hold, but let’s all hope there’s a bright one ahead. Works Cited http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/1222-plutonium-more-dangerous-uranium.html http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/files/raduranmed.txt http://www.arpansa.gov.au/radiationprotection/basics/alpha.cfm http://orise.orau.gov/reacts/guide/alpha.htm http://www.uraniumsa.org/about/radiation.htm http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2011/04/03/impact-of-mox-fuel-at-fukushima/ http://www.imagesco.com/articles/geiger/fig1.jpg http://gothamist.com/attachments/nyc_arts_john/041211fukushima.jpg https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDlZX1dolL0cJjNHhD0H_FH6FXyuscFZeKYvQJ6qnwzZ0ZnM7S3BrGo9BGuLT0m5LR1XNPr8ubMGdU9JNMIphRuamDROiKIAzATsR2z8Xwk_-KIxdCpEArqc0qE4cGpSgWG89G_1YQX1G/s1600/reactor_smoke_G_20110323232127.jpg