12th Grade

Physical
Science
What is neptunium?
• The chemical element of atomic number 93, a radioactive metal of the actinide series.
Neptunium was discovered as a product of the bombardment of uranium with neutrons, and
occurs only in trace amounts in nature.

Discovery date 1940

Discovered by Edwin McMillan and Philip Abelson

Origin of the
Neptunium was named after the planet Neptune.
name
•
HISTORY
In early 1934, Enrico Fermi in Italy tried to produce elements 93 and 94 by
bombarding uranium with neutrons, and claimed success. Ida Tacke-
Noddack questioned Fermi’s claim, pointing out he had failed to do a
complete analysis, and all that he had found were fission products of
uranium. (Fermi had in fact discovered nuclear fission but not realised it.)
In 1938, Horia Hulubei and Yvette Cauchois claimed to have discovered
element 93, but the claim was also criticised on the grounds that element
93 did not occur naturally.
• Neptunium was first made in 1940 by Edwin McMillan and Philip Abelson
at Berkeley, California. It came from a uranium target that had been
bombarded with slow neutrons and which then emitted unusual beta-rays
indicating a new isotope. Abelson proved there was indeed a new
element present.
 Characteristic
Neptunium is a ductile, silvery, radioactive metal. Neptunium forms
numerous chemical compounds. Chemically it is extremely reactive and is
attacked by oxygen, steam and acids, but not by alkalis.
Atomic mass: (237) g.mol -1
Density: 20.2 g.cm-3 at 20°C
Atomic number: 93
Melting point: 640 °
 Uses
Uses and
and Properties
Properties
Image explanation
The symbol used is a representation of the trident belonging to the Roman god Neptune.
Appearance
A radioactive metal.
Uses
Neptunium is little used outside research. The isotope neptunium-237 has been used in
neutron detectors.
Biological role
Neptunium has no known biological role. It is toxic due to its radioactivity.
Natural abundance
Neptunium is obtained as a by-product from nuclear reactors. It is extracted from the spent
uranium fuel rods. Trace quantities occur naturally in uranium ores.
12 TVL BASTIANICH