Uranium-239
| Isotopes of uranium | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Name, symbol | U-239,239U |
| Neutrons | 147 |
| Protons | 92 |
| Nuclide data | |
| 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 238U to neutron radiation in a nuclear reactor. 239U 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. 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.
239Np further decays to plutonium-239, in a second important step that ultimately produces fissile 239Pu (used in weapons and for nuclear power), from 238U in reactors.
| Lighter: uranium-238 |
isotopes of uranium is an isotope of uranium |
Heavier: uranium-240 |
| Decay product of: protactinium-239 (β-) |
Decay chain of isotopes of uranium |
Decays to: neptunium-239 (β-) |
Read more about this topic: Isotopes Of Uranium