Plutonium. Brief presentation of nuclear and physico-chemical properties

This paper is a course of transparencies for a general presentation of nuclear and physico-chemical properties of plutonium. It comprises: an historical review of discoveries concerning plutonium isotopes fissile properties and production; fuel production and use in French reactors; nuclear properties and natural decay of plutonium nuclides; instabilities induced by neutrons (fission and capture); abundance in nuclear fuels; crystal structure and physico-chemical properties (phase diagrams) of solid plutonium compounds; chemical properties, oxidation states and absorption spectra of plutonium in aqueous solution; hydrolytic, redox properties, and complexation of plutonium ions; solvent and resins extractions for purification; and finally, production and use of plutonium (fuel cycle and fuel reprocessing). (J.S.). 10 figs., 4 tabs