Plutonium hexafluoride

Plutonium hexafluoride[1]
Stereo structural formula of plutonium hexafluoride
Names
IUPAC name
plutonium(VI) fluoride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/6FH.Pu/h6*1H;/q;;;;;;+6/p-6 ☒N
    Key: OJSBUHMRXCPOJV-UHFFFAOYSA-H checkY
  • F[Pu](F)(F)(F)(F)F
Properties
PuF
6
Appearance Dark red, opaque crystals
Density 5.08 g·cm−3
Melting point 52 °C (126 °F; 325 K)
Boiling point 62 °C (144 °F; 335 K)
Structure
Orthorhombic, oP28
Pnma, No. 62
octahedral (Oh)
0 D
Related compounds
Related fluoroplutoniums
Plutonium trifluoride

Plutonium tetrafluoride

Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS03: OxidizingGHS05: CorrosiveGHS06: ToxicGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gasFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures. E.g. nitroglycerinSpecial hazard RA: Radioactive. E.g. plutonium
4
0
4
Special hazard RA: Radioactive. E.g. plutonium
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 hexafluoride is the highest fluoride of plutonium, and is of interest for laser enrichment of plutonium, in particular for the production of pure plutonium-239 from irradiated uranium. This isotope of plutonium is needed to avoid premature ignition of low-mass nuclear weapon designs by neutrons produced by spontaneous fission of plutonium-240.

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