plutonium
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plutonium
A radioactive, toxic chemical element with the symbol Pu. It is a heavy metal used mainly in nuclear weapons and as fuel in some nuclear reactors.
Für den Bau von Atombomben wird hochangereichertes Plutonium benötigt.
Highly enriched plutonium is needed to build atomic bombs.
The ending '-ium' is typical in German for many chemical elements, especially metals. When you see this ending, it is often the name of a substance from science (e.g., Kalzium, Radium, Aluminium).
Wie bei Radium oder Uran erkennt man an der Endung -ium, dass Plutonium ein chemisches Element ist.
As with radium or uranium, the ending -ium shows that plutonium is a chemical element.
As a substance name, 'Plutonium' (plutonium) is often used without an article when speaking about the substance in general. The article 'das' is used when a specific amount or type is meant.
Hier wird mit Plutonium geforscht.
Research is being conducted with plutonium here.
This is a technical term from physics and chemistry. It is used almost only in scientific, technical, or political discussions about nuclear energy and atomic weapons.
In dem wissenschaftlichen Artikel ging es um die Entsorgung von Plutonium.
The scientific article was about the disposal of plutonium.
Common adjectives that describe 'Plutonium' (plutonium) refer to its properties or purpose, e.g., 'radioaktives' (radioactive), 'waffenfähiges' (weapons-grade), or 'hoch angereichertes' (highly enriched) plutonium.
Nur waffenfähiges Plutonium kann für den Bau von Atombomben verwendet werden.
Only weapons-grade plutonium can be used to build atomic bombs.
uranium
'das Uran' and 'das Plutonium' are both radioactive chemical elements and are connected with nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. For this reason, learners may confuse them. 'Uran' is a naturally occurring heavy element and is mentioned especially as fuel in nuclear power plants. 'Plutonium' is also a heavy, toxic radioactive element and is especially known from the context of nuclear weapons and special reactors. In normal texts, you should not swap the words, because they refer to different substances.
Plutonium ist sehr giftig und darf nur unter strengem Schutz gelagert werden.
Plutonium is very toxic and may only be stored under strict protection.
Im Unterricht hat die Lehrerin erklärt, dass Uran in manchen Kernkraftwerken als Brennstoff dient.
In class, the teacher explained that uranium is used as fuel in some nuclear power plants.