Plutonium trihydride

Plutonium trihydride
Names
IUPAC name
Plutonium trihydride
Other names
Plutonium(III) hydride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/Pu.3H
    Key: MXUSSOOZHGQFGP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [PuH3]
Properties
PuH3
Molar mass 247 g·mol−1
Appearance grey crystals
Density 9610 kg/m3
Melting point 327 °C (621 °F; 600 K)
soluble
Related compounds
Other cations
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Plutonium trihydride is an compound of plutonium and hydrogen with the chemical formula PuH3.[1][2][3]

Synthesis

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Plutonium reacts noticeably with hydrogen at room temperature and rapidly when heated:[4]

2Pu + 3H2 → 2PuH3

Also, heating of plutonium dihydride with hydrogen:

2PuH2 + H2 → 2PuH3

Physical properties

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Plutonium trihydride forms grey crystals of hexagonal crystal structure,[5][6] space group P63/mmc.

Chemical properties

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When heated in an ammonia atmosphere, it forms a plutonium nitride:[7]

PuH3 + NH3 → PuN + 3H2

It reacts with air:[8]

PuH3 + O2 + N2 → Pu2O3 + PuN + H2

References

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  1. ^ "WebElements Periodic Table » Plutonium » plutonium trihydride". winter.group.shef.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. ^ Balasubramanian, K.; Felter, Thomas E.; Anklam, Thomas; Trelenberg, Thomas W.; McLean, William (11 October 2007). "Atomistic level relativistic quantum modelling of plutonium hydrogen reaction". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 444–445: 447–452. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.11.068. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ^ Bailar, J. C. (15 October 2013). Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry. Elsevier. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-4832-8313-5. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  4. ^ Peterson, Sigfred (1955). Fundamental Chemistry for Nuclear Reactor Engineers. U. S. Atomic Energy Commission. p. 80. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ^ Donnay, Joseph Désiré Hubert (1963). Crystal Data; Determinative Tables. American Crystallographic Association. p. 766. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  6. ^ Donnay, Joseph Désiré Hubert (1973). Crystal Data: Inorganic compounds. National Bureau of Standards. p. 221. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  7. ^ Ahrland, S.; Bagnall, K. W.; Brown, D. (7 June 2016). The Chemistry of the Actinides: Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry. Elsevier. p. 150. ISBN 978-1-4831-5934-8. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  8. ^ Haschke, John M.; Dinh, Long N. (25 March 2017). "Chemistry and kinetics of the pyrophoric plutonium hydride-air reaction". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 698: 44–48. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.12.162. ISSN 0925-8388. Retrieved 5 October 2025.