Neptunium (Np)

Atomic Number93
Atomic Mass237 u
CategoryActinide
Electron Config[Rn] 5f⁴ 6d¹ 7s²
Appearancesilvery metallic
Density (STP)20450 g/L
Melting Point912 K
Boiling Point4447 K
Electronegativity1.36 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy604.5 kJ/mol
Atomic Radius175 pm
Crystal StructureSimple Orthorhombic
Discovered ByEdwin McMillan (1940)

Brief Introduction

Neptunium (Np) is a silvery, radioactive actinide metal. It is the first transuranic element and is produced in nuclear reactors. Key details about Neptunium (Np) are as follows:

Uses: Used in neutron detection equipment and as a precursor for plutonium-238 production (used in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for spacecraft). No large-scale commercial applications.

Production/Extraction: Produced as a byproduct in nuclear reactors when uranium-238 captures neutrons. Can also be extracted from spent nuclear fuel. Not found in significant quantities in nature.

History: Discovered in 1940 by Edwin McMillan and Philip Abelson at UC Berkeley. Named after the planet Neptune, following uranium (named after Uranus).

Health Effects & Safety: Highly radioactive and toxic. Accumulates in bones. Emits alpha particles. Requires strict containment and handling in specialized facilities.

Price/Market: Not commercially traded. Produced and used only in controlled nuclear facilities and research laboratories.

Properties: Radioactive, silvery metallic appearance, dense, exists in multiple oxidation states (+3 to +7), most stable isotope Np-237 has half-life of 2.14 million years, melting point around 644°C.

← Uranium (U) · Plutonium (Pu) →

Periodic Table