The chemical thermodynamics of nuclear materials—V: The enthalpy of solution of alpha and delta-stabilized plutonium in 6M HCl

Abstract

The enthalpies of solution of alpha phase plutonium and delta phase plutonium (stabilized with 2.95 atomic percent gallium) in 5.998 M HCl have been determined using a modified LKB reaction calorimeter. The enthalpy values obtained at 298.15 K are (−592.17 ± 1.02) kJ mol −1 for the alpha phase and (−577.17 ± 1.05) kJ g-formula −1 for the delta phase, respectively. These results enable the calculation of the enthalpy of formation of the plutonium-gallium alloy as (−2.25 ± 1.56) kJ g-formula −1.