Neptunium - Np
|Chemical properties of neptunium - Healt effects of neptunium - Environmental effects of neptunium|
Neptunium is a ductile, silvery, radioactive metal. Neptunium forms numerous chemical compounds. Chemically it is extremely reactive and is attacked by oxygen, steam and acids, but not by alkalis. It can exist in many oxidation states, from neptunium (II) to neptunium (VII).
Neptunium has been used in neutron detectors. It does not have any commercial application.
Neptunium in the environment
Neptunium occurs naturally in Earth, being present in minute quantities in uranium ores. Today neptunium-237 is extracted in kg quantities from the spent uranium fuel rods of nuclear reactors.
Neptunium plays no rule in living things an is never encountered outside nuclear facilities or research laboratories.
Possible health effects: Bone cancer
Organ receiving main dose: Gastrointestinal tract
Summary of health studies: Most of the neptunium that is retained in the body deposits in the bones. Some is also retained in the liver. Several studies report "relatively high concentrations" of neptunium in adrenal glands of laboratory animals.
No negative environmental effects have been reported. If you have any information on these, please contact us and tell us.
Back to chart periodic elements.