Plutonium
/pluːˈtoʊniəm/noun
A radioactive chemical element with atomic number 94, used in nuclear reactors and weapons.
Did you know?Plutonium was named in 1941 after Pluto, the dwarf planet and Roman god of the underworld, continuing a scientific naming pattern that linked new elements to mythic powers.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Rome
Latin
Plūtō
“Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld”
Late Latin
Latin
Plūtōnium
“A name formed from Pluto, later used in scientific Latin-style naming”
1941
English
plutonium
“A newly discovered synthetic element named for Pluto”
Modern English
English
plutonium
“The radioactive chemical element Pu, atomic number 94”
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