Plutonium

Plutonium, with the symbol Pu and atomic number 94, is a radioactive chemical element. It is a silvery-gray actinide metal that tarnishes when exposed to air and oxidizes to leave a dull covering. The element has six allotropes and four oxidation levels in its natural form. Carbon, halogens, nitrogen, silicon, and hydrogen are all reactants. When exposed to wet air, it creates oxides and hydrides, which can cause the sample to expand by up to 70% in volume and flake off as a pyrophoric powder. Plutonium is radioactive and may accumulate in bones, making it risky to handle.

Plutonium is undoubtedly the most well-known and destructive of all the elements on this list. Glenn T. Seaborg, Joseph W. Kennedy, and Arthur C. Wahl, three American chemists, discovered the substance in 1941. The element was later employed in several atomic bombs and is being used in nuclear weapons today. One gram of plutonium costs almost $4,000, according to estimates.

However, plutonium isn't just for weapons. The substance, according to experts, is crucial in the development of nuclear energy. It's even been used to power space missions like the Curiosity Rover on Mars. Plutonium is also used to fuel the New Horizons spacecraft, which was the first to go to Pluto. Plutonium, interestingly enough, is named after the planet Pluto.

Estimated Value: $4,000 per gram (weapons-grade)