Why/how does plutonium glow in the dark?

Question

Just out of random curiosity.

I know it's radioactive; what I meant is how does the radioactivity make it glow?

Answer 1

In general, radioactive substances do NOT glow in the dark (see source 1). They give off very high-energy radiation, which is dangerous to cells, but way outside the range of radiation that our eyes respond to as "light."

Substances called 'phosphors' (such as the phosphors in CRT monitors and televisions, and coating the inside of fluorescent bulbs) that glow in the dark are NOT radioactive. Instead, these are atoms that absorb energy, and can then emit that energy back even after the incoming energy is turned off. E.g. that's why they only glow for a certain amount of time after they've been exposed to light.

What may be confusing you is that some manufacturers of glow-in-the-dark items can add in some radioactive elements to the phosphors. This provides the phosphors with a constant source of energy, and therefore the compound does not require an external light source. I.e. the phosphor absorbs high-energy photons from the radioactive element, and emits low-energy photons (visible light). But it is not the radioactive element *itself* that is glowing. (See source 2.)

Naturally occuring Plutonium (Pu-244) does not glow in the dark. However when refined for nuclear power or weapons as Pu-238 and Pu-239, it will be so radioactive that it gives off radiation in such a wide spectrum that some of it is visible light ... and this does glow in the dark. There's a picture of it in the wikipidia page for Plutonium (source 3).

Answer 2

Glowing Plutonium

Answer 3

Its caused by a process called radioactive decay, in which plutionium releases the equivalent of a helium nucleus along with a small amount of energy that manifests itself in the form of light. Eventually plutonium will stop glowing, though by this point it will no longer be plutonium.

Answer 4

It's highly radioactive,so it glows because of that. Just like neptunium,americium.curium etc. it was synthetically prepared, that's how it got it's radioactive state.

Answer 5

Because it's radioactive

Answer 6

Well basically because it is ratioactive as in it lets off ratioactivity such as alpha, beta, and gamma rays which are dangourous, alpha just going through a piece of paper, beta going through a little bit of lead, and gamma going through 10 inches of lead. And lead is one of the most dense elements. Also through this letting off of ratioactive rays, that the ratioactive elemtent actually becomes stable by turning in to another element.

Answer 7

Was wondering this as well

Answer 8

Thx for the answers, much appreciated!