Plutonium hexafluoride

Plutonium hexafluoride
Names
IUPAC name
plutonium(VI) fluoride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/6FH.Pu/h6*1H;/q;;;;;;+6/p-6 N
    Key: OJSBUHMRXCPOJV-UHFFFAOYSA-H Y
  • F[Pu](F)(F)(F)(F)F
Properties
PuF
6
Appearance Dark red, opaque crystals
Density 5.08 g·cm−3
Melting point 52 °C (126 °F; 325 K)
Boiling point 62 °C (144 °F; 335 K)
Structure
Orthorhombic, oP28
Pnma, No. 62
octahedral (Oh)
0 D
Related compounds
Related fluoroplutoniums
Plutonium trifluoride

Plutonium tetrafluoride

Hazards
GHS labelling:
Danger
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
4
0
4
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Plutonium hexafluoride is the highest fluoride of plutonium, and is of interest for laser enrichment of plutonium, in particular for the production of pure plutonium-239 from irradiated uranium. This isotope of plutonium is needed to avoid premature ignition of low-mass nuclear weapon designs by neutrons produced by spontaneous fission of plutonium-240.