Protactinium, symbol Pa, is a radioactive metallic chemical element with atomic number 91. It belongs to the actinide series of elements within the periodic table. Protactinium is highly unstable and exhibits intriguing properties. The element was first discovered in 1913 by two chemists, Kasimir Fajans and Oswald Helmuth Göhring, independently of each other.
Protactinium is a silvery-gray metal, resembling some other actinides. It is a dense material, somewhat ductile, and highly malleable. Its melting point is approximately 1,567 degrees Celsius, and its boiling point is estimated to be around 4,000 degrees Celsius. Due to its scarcity and high radioactivity, protactinium has limited practical applications. However, it has been utilized in research as a precursor to the production of other elements, particularly other actinides.
The main isotope of protactinium, Pa-231, has a half-life of around 32,760 years. It decays through alpha decay, generating uranium-235. Only small amounts of protactinium naturally occur on Earth, mostly as a result of decay processes in natural uranium. It can also be artificially produced in nuclear reactors.
Protactinium has been studied extensively for its potential uses in nuclear fuel, nuclear weapons, and other technological applications. However, due to its intrinsic instability and scarcity, as well as the challenges associated with handling radioactive materials, its practical utilization remains limited.
