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Glite Dictionary
protoactinium

protoactinium

9.9
A short-lived radioactive metal that forms from uranium and turns into actinium and lead
  • noun
  • /ˌproʊtoʊˈæktɪniəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : protoactinio
  • Scientists must take precautions when handling protoactinium due to its radioactivity.

Examples

  • The atomic symbol for protoactinium is Pa.

  • The decay chain of uranium-238 includes the formation of protoactinium.

  • Protoactinium is extremely rare and was first discovered in uranium ores.

  • Scientists discovered protoactinium during their research.

  • Researchers found that protoactinium decays quickly into actinium after its formation.

  • Laboratories studying nuclear reactions often work with protoactinium due to its radioactive properties.

  • The extraction of protoactinium from uranium ores requires advanced techniques because of its rarity.

Synonyms

Pa
vsprotoactinium
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A rare radioactive metal that comes from uranium and slowly turns into lead

is the full written form rather than its short symbol
protactinium
vsprotoactinium
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A rare short-lived radioactive metal found in uranium ores that slowly turns into lead

is an alternate spelling for the same radioactive metal
atomic number 91
vsprotoactinium
  • Specialized
9.6

A radioactive metal element called protactinium often made when uranium breaks down

identifies it by name or symbol instead of the numeric designation

Surface Forms

protoactinium singular
protoactinums plural

Morphology

protoactinium = actinium (semi-transparent) = proto + actinium

The name is built from proto- 'first' plus actinium, but the technical element name is only partly guessable from its parts.

Etymology

The word protoactinium is made from proto- meaning 'first' and actinium, a name from a Greek word for 'ray'. So it means 'first actinium', which fits because this short-lived radioactive metal appears before actinium when uranium breaks down.