| Uranium-239 | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Name, symbol | U-239,239U |
| Neutrons | 147 |
| Protons | 92 |
| Nuclide data | |
| Natural abundance | 0 (Artificial) |
| Half-life | 23.45 mins |
| Decay products | 239Np |
| Decay mode | Decay energy |
| Beta decay 20% | 1.28 MeV |
| Beta decay 80% | 1.21 MeV |
Uranium-239 is an isotope of uranium. It is usually produced by exposing uranium-238 to neutron radiation in a nuclear reactor. Uranium-239 has a half-life of about 23.45 minutes and decays into neptunium-239 through beta decay, with a total decay energy of about 1.29 Mev.[1]. The most common gamma decay at 74.660 kev accounts for the difference in the two major channels of beta emission energy, at 1.28 and 1.21 Mev.[2]
Neptunium-239 further decays to plutonium-239, in a second important step which ultimately produces fissile plutonium-239 (used in weapons and for nuclear power), from uranium-238 in reactors.
| Lighter: Uranium-238 |
Uranium-239 is an isotope of Uranium |
Heavier: Uranium-240 |
| Decay product of: Protactinium-239 (β-) |
Decay chain of Uranium-239 |
Decays to: Neptunium-239 (β-) |
References
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