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
Usesand
andProperties
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.
 Zidnie R. Dulay
12 TVL BASTIANICH