Plutonium(III) oxide
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| Other names
Diplutonium trioxide
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3D model (JSmol)
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| Properties | |
Chemical formula
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Pu2O3 |
| Molar mass | 536 g·mol−1 |
| Density | 11 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 2,085 °C (3,785 °F; 2,358 K) |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references
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Plutonium(III) oxide is an inorganic compound of plutonium and oxygen with the chemical formula Pu2O3. This is a sesquioxide of plutonium and is a lower oxide compared to the more common plutonium dioxide PuO2.[2]
Synthesis
The cubic modification of the compound is formed by thermal dissociation of plutonium dioxide:[3]
- 2PuO2 → Pu2O3 + O2
The hexagonal modification is formed during the reduction of plutonium dioxide with metallic plutonium:
- 2PuO2 + Pu → 2Pu2O3
Physical properties
The compound forms black crystals of cubic system, space group I a3.[4][5]
The compound also forms crystals of hexagohal system, space group P 3m1.[6]
Chemical properties
The compound oxidizes when stored in open air:[6]
- 2Pu2O3 + O2 → 4PuO2
References
- ^ "WebElements Periodic Table » Plutonium » diplutonium trioxide". webelements.com. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Los Alamos Science. The Laboratory. 2000. p. 258. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Guéneau, Christine; Chatillon, Christian; Sundman, Bo (September 2008). "Thermodynamic modelling of the plutonium–oxygen system". Journal of Nuclear Materials. 378 (3): 257–272. Bibcode:2008JNuM..378..257G. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.06.013.
- ^ "Pu2O3, ID: mp-637224". Materials Project. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Volʹskiĭ, Anton Nikolaevich; Sterlin, I︠A︡kov Moiseevich (1970). The Metallurgy of Plutonium. Israel Program for Scientific Translations; [available from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Va.] p. 48. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ a b Yang, Yu; Lu, Yong; Zhang, Ping (1 September 2014). "Optical properties of PuO2 and α-Pu2O3". Journal of Nuclear Materials. 452 (1): 414–418. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.05.070. ISSN 0022-3115. Retrieved 26 November 2025.