Acrylic cube Neptunium

Neptunium, with the chemical symbol Np and atomic number 93, is a fascinating and artificially produced chemical element. It was first discovered in 1940 by American scientists Edwin McMillan and Philip Abelson. McMillan and Abelson bombarded uranium with neutrons, discovering the short-lived isotope Neptunium-239.

The name "Neptunium" is derived from the planet Neptune, following the tradition of naming new elements after planets. The discovery of Neptunium was crucial for the development of nuclear reactors and atomic weapons. Neptunium does not naturally occur on Earth as it is a transuranic element generated by humans. It often forms as an intermediate product in the conversion of uranium to plutonium in nuclear reactors. Due to its radioactive nature and limited availability, Neptunium has few broad applications. However, it finds use in research and some specialized technological applications.

The key Neptunium isotopes are Neptunium-237 and Neptunium-239. Neptunium-237 has a half-life of about 2.14 million years, while Neptunium-239 has a half-life of approximately 2.36 days.