Hint: Toxic substances are those which are harmful or hazardous to living beings and the environment. Heavy elements (heavier than lead) are generally radioactive and reactive in nature. Plutonium is one of the heavy elements which is toxic, radioactive and highly reactive in nature.
Complete answer:
Among the 118 elements present in the periodic table, Plutonium is the most dangerous element which is harmful to human health and environment. It is dangerous owing to its toxicity, radioactivity and high reactivity. Plutonium is a heavy element with atomic number 94 and mass number 239 (actinide metal). It is unstable and rapidly undergoes a decay process to emit alpha, beta and gamma radiations. The flood of these emitted harmful radiations makes plutonium toxic, and radioactive in nature. That’s why it is used as a nuclear weapon in the formation of atomic bombs. It has been estimated that an explosion of 500 grams of plutonium in the environment will lead to approximately 2 million deaths by inhalation or indigestion. On the positive note, Plutonium is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity and as a portable energy source for space vehicles.
Therefore, we can say that Plutonium is the most dangerous element present on earth.
Additional information:
Plutonium is carcinogenic in nature. Besides plutonium, polonium, mercury, lead, arsenic, francium, chromium, cesium, cadmium, antimony are few other examples of dangerous elements.
Note:
It is important to note that Plutonium is the most dangerous element. This element is radioactive, man-made, toxic and highly reactive in nature. It is estimated that an explosion of 500 grams plutonium will lead to approximately 2 million deaths.
