Plutonium(IV) nitrate

The compound dissolves in water and forms crystalline hydrates as dark green crystals.

[1][2] Crystals of dark green to black-green composition Pu(NO3)4•5H2O precipitate with a slow (months) evaporation of a solution of a plutonium (IV) compound in nitric acid.

[3][4] Plutonium (IV) nitrate forms a crystalline hydrate of the composition Pu(NO3)4•5H2O—dark green crystals of rhombic crystal structure, space group F dd2, cell parameters: a = 1.114 nm, b = 2.258 nm, c = 1.051 nm, Z = 8.

When heated to 150–180 °C, it decomposes with autooxidation to plutonium (VI) with the formation of plutonyl nitrate (PuO2(NO3)2).

Plutonium nitrate is both radioactive and extremely toxic due to its high solubility in water.

NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gas Flammability 2: Must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperature before ignition can occur. Flash point between 38 and 93 °C (100 and 200 °F). E.g. diesel fuel Instability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogen Special hazard RA: Radioactive. E.g. plutonium