Neptunium

Neptunium (Np)

Neptunium is the 93rd element in the periodic table and has a symbol of Np and atomic number of 93. It has an atomic weight of (237) and a mass number of 219. Neptunium has ninety-three protons and one hundred twenty-six neutrons in its nucleus, and ninety-three electrons in seven shells. It is located in group Actinides, period seven and block f of the periodic table. Radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to the actinoids. Np-237, the most stable isotope, has a half-life of 2.2*10^6 years and is a by product of nuclear reactors. The other known isotopes have mass numbers 229 through 236, and 238 through 241. Np-236 has a half-life of 5*10^3 years. First produced by Edwin M. McMillan and P.H. Abelson in 1940.
Atomic Number93
Atomic Weight237
Mass Number219
Group
Period7
Blockf
Protons93 p+
Neutrons126 n0
Electrons93 e-
Animated Bohr Model of Np (Neptunium)

Physical Properties

Atomic Radius
Molar Volume
Covalent Radius
Metallic Radius
Ionic Radius
Crystal Radius
Van der Waals Radius
Density
Atomic Radii of the Elements: Neptunium0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240pmAtomic RadiusCovalent RadiusMetallic RadiusVan der Waals Radius

Chemical Properties

Energy
Proton Affinity
Electron Affinity
Ionization Energy
Ionization Energies of Np (Neptunium)
Heat of Vaporization
Heat of Fusion
Heat of Formation
Electrons
Electron Shells2, 8, 18, 32, 22, 9, 2
Bohr Model: Np (Neptunium)
Valence Electrons2
Lewis Structure: Np (Neptunium)
Electron Configuration[Rn] 5f4 6d1 7s2
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 5f4 6d1 7s2
Enhanced Bohr Model of Np (Neptunium)
Orbital Diagram of Np (Neptunium)
Oxidation States2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Electronegativity
1.3
Electrophilicity Index
States of Matter
PhaseSolid
Gas Phase
Boiling Point
Melting Point
Critical Pressure
Critical Temperature
Triple Point
Visual

Neptunium is a Silver. Np has a CPK of #ffffff, Jmol of #0080ff, and MOLCAS GV of #0080ff. The Appearance of Element 93 is silvery metallic.

Color
Silver
Appearancesilvery metallic
Refractive Index
Thermodynamic Properties
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion
Molar Heat Capacity
Specific Heat Capacity
Heat Capacity Ratio (Adiabatic Index)
Electrical Properties
TypeConductor
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Superconducting Point
Magnetism
Type
Magnetic Susceptibility (Mass)
Magnetic Susceptibility (Molar)
Magnetic Susceptibility (Volume)
Magnetic Ordering
Curie Point
Neel Point
Structure

The Crystal Structure of Neptunium is ORC. The lattice constant of Np is 4.72 Å. The lattice angles of Element 93 are π/2, π/2, π/2.

Crystal StructureSimple Orthorhombic (ORC)
Lattice Constant
Lattice Anglesπ/2, π/2, π/2
Mechanical Properties
Hardness
Bulk Modulus
Shear Modulus
Young's Modulus
Poisson Ratio
Speed of Sound
Classification

The Glawe Number of Neptunium is 37. The Mendeleev Number of Np is 22. The Pettifor Number of Element 93 is 44. The Goldschmidt Class of Neptunium (Np) is synthetic.

CategoryActinides, Actinides
CAS Group
IUPAC Group
Glawe Number37
Mendeleev Number22
Pettifor Number44
Geochemical Class
Goldschmidt Classsynthetic

Other

The Dipole Polarizability of Neptunium is 151 plus or minus 20 a₀. The Allotropes of Np is . The Neutron Cross Section of Element 93 is 180. The Quantum Numbers of Neptunium (Np) is 6L11/2. The Space Group of Neptunium is 62 (Pnma).

Gas Basicity
Dipole Polarizability
C6 Dispersion Coefficient
Allotropes
Neutron Cross Section
180
Neutron Mass Absorption
Quantum Numbers6L11/2
Space Group62 (Pnma)

Isotopes of Neptunium

Stable Isotopes0
Unstable Isotopes27
Natural Isotopes0

219Np

Mass Number219
Neutron Number126
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
570 ± 450 us
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2015
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

220Np

Mass Number220
Neutron Number127
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
29 ± 11 ns
Spin1
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2019
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

221Np

Mass Number221
Neutron Number128
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)

222Np

Mass Number222
Neutron Number129
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
480 ± 190 ns
Spin1
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2020
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

223Np

Mass Number223
Neutron Number130
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.5 ± 0.8 us
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2017
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

224Np

Mass Number224
Neutron Number131
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
48 ± 19 us
Spin2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2018
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

225Np

Mass Number225
Neutron Number132
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
6.5 ± 3.5 ms
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1994
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

226Np

Mass Number226
Neutron Number133
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
35 ± 10 ms
Spin
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1990
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

227Np

Mass Number227
Neutron Number134
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
510 ± 60 ms
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1990
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

228Np

Mass Number228
Neutron Number135
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
61.4 ± 1.4 s
Spin4
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1994
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
ϵ (electron capture)59%
α (α emission)41%
β+ SF (β+-delayed fission)0.012%

229Np

Mass Number229
Neutron Number136
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
4 ± 0.18 m
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1968
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)68%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

230Np

Mass Number230
Neutron Number137
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
4.6 ± 0.3 m
Spin4
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1968
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)97%
α (α emission)3%

231Np

Mass Number231
Neutron Number138
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
48.8 ± 0.2 m
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1950
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)98%
α (α emission)2%

232Np

Mass Number232
Neutron Number139
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
14.7 ± 0.3 m
Spin5
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1950
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
α (α emission)

233Np

Mass Number233
Neutron Number140
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
36.2 ± 0.1 m
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1950
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
α (α emission)0.0007%

234Np

Mass Number234
Neutron Number141
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
4.4 ± 0.1 d
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1949
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

235Np

Mass Number235
Neutron Number142
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
396.1 ± 1.2 d
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1949
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
ϵ (electron capture)99.9974%
α (α emission)0.0026%

236Np

Mass Number236
Neutron Number143
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
153 ± 5 ky
Spin6
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1949
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
ϵ (electron capture)86.3%
β (β decay)13.5%
α (α emission)0.16%

237Np

Mass Number237
Neutron Number144
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.144 ± 0.007 My
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
3.886 ± 0.006
Discovery Year1948
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
SF (spontaneous fission)2%
30Mg4%

238Np

Mass Number238
Neutron Number145
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.099 ± 0.002 d
Spin2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1949
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

239Np

Mass Number239
Neutron Number146
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.356 ± 0.003 d
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1940
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
α (α emission)

240Np

Mass Number240
Neutron Number147
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
61.9 ± 0.2 m
Spin5
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1953
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

241Np

Mass Number241
Neutron Number148
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
13.9 ± 0.2 m
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1959
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
α (α emission)

242Np

Mass Number242
Neutron Number149
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.2 ± 0.2 m
Spin1
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1979
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

243Np

Mass Number243
Neutron Number150
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
1.85 ± 0.15 m
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1979
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

244Np

Mass Number244
Neutron Number151
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.29 ± 0.16 m
Spin7
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1987
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

245Np

Mass Number245
Neutron Number152
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
Neptunium2

History

Neptunium was the first synthetic transuranium element of the actinide series to be discovered. Neptunium was first produced by Edwin McMillan and Philip H. Abelson in 1940 at Berkeley Radiation Laboratory of the University of California. The team produced the neptunium isotope 239Np by bombarding uranium with slow moving neutrons. Named after the planet Neptune

DiscoverersE.M. McMillan, P.H. Abelson
Discovery LocationUnited States
Discovery Year1940
Etymology (Name Origin)Named for the planet Neptune.
Pronunciationnep-TOO-ni-em (English)
Neptunium is harmful due to its radioactivity
Neptunium is obtained as a by-product from nuclear reactors

Uses

Neptunium is used mainly for research purposes. When bombarded with neutrons 237Np is used to produce 238Pu which is used for spacecraft generators and terrestrial navigation beacons. 237Np is used in devices for detecting high-energy neutrons. It has no significant commercial applications.

Sources

Produced by bombarding uranium with slow neutrons.

Abundance
Abundance in Earth's crust
Natural Abundance (Oceans)
Natural Abundance (Human Body)
0 %
Natural Abundance (Meteor)
0 %
Natural Abundance (Sun)
0 %
Abundance in Universe
0 %

Nuclear Screening Constants

Also Known As

  • Np
  • element 93
  • 93Np

Translations

  • Frenchneptunium
  • Norwegian Bokmålneptunium
  • GermanNeptunium
  • Italiannettunio
  • Dutchneptunium
  • Norwegian Nynorskneptunium
  • Danishneptunium
  • Swedishneptunium
  • Amharicኔፕቲዩኒየም
  • Arabicنبتونيوم
  • AzerbaijaniNeptunium
  • BelarusianНептуній
  • Bulgarianнептуний
  • Banglaনেপচুনিয়াম
  • Bosnianneptunij
  • Catalanneptuni
  • CherokeeᏁᏩᏚᏂᎥᎻ
  • CorsicanNettuniu
  • Czechneptunium
  • ChuvashНептуни
  • WelshNeptwniwm
  • Greekποσειδώνιο
  • Esperantoneptunio
  • Spanishneptunio
  • Estonianneptuunium
  • Basqueneptunio
  • Persianنپتونیوم
  • Finnishneptunium
  • FriulianNetuni
  • Irishneiptiúiniam
  • GalicianNeptunio
  • ManxNepçhunium
  • Hakka Chineseneptunium
  • Hebrewנפטוניום
  • Fiji HindiNeptunium
  • Croatianneptunij
  • Haitian CreoleNeptinyòm
  • Hungarianneptúnium
  • Armenianնեպտունիում
  • Interlinguaneptunium
  • Indonesianneptunium
  • Idoneptunio
  • Japaneseネプツニウム
  • Lojbanjinmrneptuni
  • JavaneseNeptunium
  • Kannadaನೆಪ್ಚೂನಿಯಮ್
  • Korean넵투늄
  • KomiНептуний
  • Latinneptunium
  • LuxembourgishNeptunium
  • LigurianNettunnio
  • Lithuanianneptūnis
  • Latvianneptūnijs
  • Malayalamനെപ്റ്റ്യൂണിയം
  • Marathiनेप्चूनियम
  • Western MariНептуний
  • MalayNeptunium
  • Burmeseနပ်ကျူနီယမ်
  • nahTlāloctepoztli
  • Low GermanNeptunium
  • Polishneptun
  • Western Panjabiنیپچونیم
  • Portugueseneptúnio
  • QuechuaNeptunyu
  • Romanianneptuniu
  • Russianнептуний
  • YakutНептуниум
  • Siciliannittuniu
  • Serbo-CroatianNeptunijum
  • Slovakneptúnium
  • Slovenianneptunij
  • Serbianнептунијум
  • Saterland FrisianNeptunium
  • Swahilineptuni
  • Thaiเนปทูเนียม
  • Turkishneptünyum
  • Uyghurنېپتونىي
  • Ukrainianнептуній
  • Urduنیپچونیئم
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  • YorubaNẹ́ptúníọ̀m
  • Chinese
  • Georgianნეპტუნიუმი
  • Icelandicneptúnín
  • CebuanoNeptunyo
  • Macedonianнептуниум
  • Central Kurdishنێپتوونیۆم
  • BretonNeptuniom
  • KazakhНептуний
  • Gujaratiનેપ્ચ્યુનીયમ
  • Odiaନେପ୍‌ଚୁନିଅମ
  • Tamilநெப்டூனியம்
  • Occitanneptuni
  • PiedmonteseNetuni
  • TatarНептуний
  • Hindiनेप्टूनियम
  • Newariनेप्टुनियम
  • Belarusian (Taraskievica orthography)Нэптун
  • Cantonese
  • AlbanianNeptuni (element kimik)
  • UzbekNeptuniy
  • Chinese (China)
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Taiwan)
  • Chinese (Hong Kong SAR China)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • AromanianNeptuniu
  • KyrgyzНептуний
  • Nepaliनेप्ट्युनियम
  • LimburgishNeptunium
  • FaroeseNeptunium
  • Sanskritनेप्टुनियम
  • Maltesenettunju
  • Scottish GaelicNeiptiunium
  • Teluguనెప్ట్యూనియం
  • cdoNeptunium
  • Min Nan ChineseNeptunium
  • AsturianNeptuniu
  • Paliनेप्टुनियम
  • Bhojpuriनेप्चुनियम
  • Tibetanནེབ་ཊུ་ནིམ།
  • Chinese (Macao SAR China)
  • Chinese (Malaysia)
  • Chinese (Singapore)
  • Portuguese (Brazil)netúnio
  • Literary Chinese
  • TagalogNeptunyo
  • kbpNɛptʊnɩyɔm
  • AfrikaansNeptunium
  • Lingua Franca Novanetunio
  • Northern FrisianNeptuunium
  • oloNeptunii
  • Volapükneptunin
  • Mongolianнептуни
  • TajikНептуний
  • Wu Chinese
  • SardinianNetùniu
  • BashkirНептуний
  • Moroccan Arabicنيپتونيوم
  • Egyptian Arabicنبتونيوم
  • Pashtoنېپټونيوم
  • CornishNeptuniom
  • BalineseNéptunium