Plutonium-239 is an isotope of
plutonium. Plutonium-239 is one of the three
fissile isotopes used for the production of
nuclear weapons and in
nuclear reactors as a source of energy. Other fissile isotopes used are
uranium-235 and
uranium-233. Plutonium-239 has a half-life of 24,110 years. The nuclear properties of plutonium-239, as well as the ability to produce large amounts of nearly pure plutonium-239, led to its use in
nuclear weapons and
nuclear power. The
fissioning of an atom of uranium-235 in the reactor of a
nuclear power plant produces two to three neutrons, and these neutrons can be absorbed by uranium-238 to produce plutonium-239 and other
isotopes. Plutonium-239 can also absorb neutrons and fission along with the uranium-235. Plutonium fissions provide about one-third of the total energy produced in a typical commercial nuclear power plant. The use of plutonium-239 in power plants occurs without it ever being removed from the
nuclear reactor fuel, i.e., it is fissioned in the same
fuel rods in which it is produced.
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