Plutonium(III) oxide
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Other names
Diplutonium trioxide | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| |
| |
| Properties | |
| Pu2O3 | |
| Molar mass | 536 g·mol−1 |
| Density | 11 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 2,085 °C (3,785 °F; 2,358 K) |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Plutonium(III) oxide is an inorganic compound of plutonium and oxygen with the chemical formula Pu2O3.[2][3][4] This is a sesquioxide of plutonium and is a lower oxide compared to the more common plutonium dioxide PuO2.[5]
Synthesis
[edit]The cubic modification of the compound is formed by thermal dissociation of plutonium dioxide:[6]
- 2PuO2 → Pu2O3 + O2
The hexagonal modification is formed during the reduction of plutonium dioxide with metallic plutonium:
- 2PuO2 + Pu → 2Pu2O3
Physical properties
[edit]The compound forms black crystals of cubic system, space group I a3.[7][8][9]
The compound also forms crystals of hexagohal system, space group P 3m1.[10][11]
Chemical properties
[edit]The compound oxidizes when stored in open air:[10]
- 2Pu2O3 + O2 → 4PuO2
References
[edit]- ↑ "WebElements Periodic Table » Plutonium » diplutonium trioxide". webelements.com. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ↑ Jomard, Gérald; Amadon, Bernard; Bottin, François; Torrent, Marc (28 August 2008). "Structural, thermodynamic, and electronic properties of plutonium oxides from first principles". Physical Review B. 78 (7). doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.78.075125. ISSN 1098-0121. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Tang, Jun; Qiu, Ruizhi; Chen, Jinfan; Ao, Bingyun (September 2021). "Revealing the microscopic mechanism of PuO2 and α-Pu2O3 in resisting plutonium hydrogenation via ab initio molecular dynamics simulation". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 874 159904. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.159904. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Morrall, Peter; Tull, Simon; Glascott, Joseph; Roussel, Paul (October 2007). "Plutonium oxide transformation kinetics and diffusion coefficient measurement". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 444–445: 352–355. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.11.004. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Los Alamos Science. The Laboratory. 2000. p. 258. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ↑ Guéneau, Christine; Chatillon, Christian; Sundman, Bo (September 2008). "Thermodynamic modelling of the plutonium–oxygen system". Journal of Nuclear Materials. 378 (3): 257–272. Bibcode:2008JNuM..378..257G. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.06.013.
- ↑ "Pu2O3, ID: mp-637224". Materials Project. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ↑ Volʹskiĭ, Anton Nikolaevich; Sterlin, I︠A︡kov Moiseevich (1970). The Metallurgy of Plutonium. Israel Program for Scientific Translations; [available from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Va.] p. 48. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ↑ Dinh, L. N.; Donald, S. B.; Stanford, J. A.; Saw, C. K.; Gollott, R.; Haschke, J. M.; McLean, W. (7 April 2023). "The kinetics of the PuO2 to Pu2O3 conversion". The Journal of Chemical Physics. 158 (13). doi:10.1063/5.0145400. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- 1 2 Yang, Yu; Lu, Yong; Zhang, Ping (1 September 2014). "Optical properties of PuO2 and α-Pu2O3". Journal of Nuclear Materials. 452 (1): 414–418. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.05.070. ISSN 0022-3115. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ↑ "Gallium Alloying in Oxidized Delta-Phase Plutonium". Los Alamos National Laboratory. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
