How Do You Spell NEPTUNIUM?

Pronunciation: [nɛptjˈuːni͡əm] (IPA)

Neptunium is a radioactive chemical element with symbol Np and atomic number 93. Its name is derived from the planet Neptune. The phonetic transcription of the word "neptunium" is /nepˈtjuːniəm/. It begins with the stressed syllable "nep", which is pronounced with an "eh" sound followed by a "p" and "t" sound. The second syllable is "tu", which is pronounced with a "t" and "oo" sound. The final syllable is "ni-um", which is pronounced with an "ee" and "um" sound.

NEPTUNIUM Meaning and Definition

  1. Neptunium is a synthetic chemical element with the atomic number 93 and the symbol Np. It belongs to the actinide series and is a radioactive metal. Neptunium was first discovered in 1940 by Edwin McMillan and Philip H. Abelson, and it was named after the planet Neptune due to its occurrence as a product of uranium fission in nuclear reactors, which itself was named after the Roman god of the sea.

    Neptunium is primarily produced as a byproduct of nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons testing. It has multiple isotopes, with neptunium-237 being the most stable and long-lived. Its atomic weight is approximately 237 amu. This element can exist in several oxidation states, with Np(V) being the most common in solution.

    Due to its radioactive nature, neptunium poses serious health risks. It emits alpha particles, which can damage living tissue if ingested or inhaled. Neptunium also has a relatively long half-life, with Np-237 taking over 2 million years to decay.

    In terms of applications, neptunium has limited use outside of scientific research. It can be used in the production of nuclear weapons and as a component in fuel for certain types of nuclear reactors. Neptunium is also utilized in neutron detection devices for analytical purposes.

    In summary, neptunium is a highly radioactive and synthetic element primarily obtained as a byproduct of nuclear reactions. Despite having limited practical applications, its study contributes to our understanding of nuclear physics and atomic energy.

Common Misspellings for NEPTUNIUM

Etymology of NEPTUNIUM

The word "neptunium" originates from the planet Neptune, which was discovered in 1846. Neptunium was the first synthetic transuranium element to be discovered beyond uranium. It was synthesized in 1940 by Edwin McMillan and Philip Abelson at the University of California, Berkeley. Since Neptune, the eighth planet in our solar system, lies beyond Uranus, it was named "neptunium" to follow the pattern of naming elements after planets.

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