(Planet Pluto) Synthesized by Seaborg, McMillan, Kennedy and Wahl in 1940 by deuteron bombardment of uranium in a cyclotron (device used to accelerate atomic particles) at Berkely, California. Found in trace quantities in uranium ores. Available from the Atomic Energy Commission. A relatively large piece of plutonium in warm to the touch due to radiation, and very large pieces can boil water.
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rare earth metal, radioactive, 15 isotopes, silvery, yellow tarnish when exposed to air, reactive, radiological hazard, dissolves in certain acids, 6 allotropic forms, heavy alpha emitter, emissions can be absorbed into bone marrow, must be handled with special equipment