Use of a glovebox conveyor for the preparation of radioactive plutonium carbide compounds at Los Alamos National Laboratory,New Mexico,USA. Plutonium (atomic number 94,symbol Pu) is almost exlusively a man-made substance,although a minute quantity of its major isotope,Pu-239,is formed by the decay of uranium,the heaviest naturally- occurring element. Pu-239 undergoes nuclear fission (splitting) into smaller nuclei,a process that is accompanied by a vast release of energy. Hence its use as an explosive in atomic bombs and as a fuel in nuclear reactors. Plutonium is highly toxic and a potent carcinogen (cancer-forming agent),even in minute quantities | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / US Dept. of Energy |
Taille de l’image : | 5210 px × 3886 px |
Model Release : | Le droit n'est pas encore disponible. Merci de nous contacter avant utilisation. |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |