Ununseptium (version 2) - Periodic Table of Videos

TL;DR

Scientists in Russia have successfully created a small number of atoms of Element 117, marking a significant achievement in the production of synthetic elements.

Transcript

This element is unique in the periodic table

• element 117, Uus, because it’s never been observed in any form at all. On the 5th of April, which is just a few days ago, there was a really, really quite key paper accepted into a physics journal. This essentially told us that some folk in Russia in Dubna had managed to make a new element. Here on my... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚫 Element 117, Uus, is the only element on the periodic table that is not assigned to an s, p, d, or f block.
• 🫀 Synthetic elements with atomic numbers greater than uranium require extensive laboratory efforts to produce and study their chemistry.
• 👨‍🔬 The creation of Element 117 involved a collaboration between scientists from the United States and Russia, showcasing the global nature of scientific research.
• ✋ The discovery of Element 117 provides supporting evidence for the concept of islands of stability, where more elements with higher atomic masses may be found.
• 🧑‍🔬 The process of verifying the results and naming the element will involve discussions among renowned scientists and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
• ❓ Element 117 is likely to exhibit characteristics similar to other halogens, such as fluorine and chlorine.
• ✨ Its physical properties are expected to be metallic or metalloid, with a dark and shiny appearance.

Questions & Answers

Q: How was Element 117 created?

Element 117, a synthetic element, was created by bombarding a target material, berkelium, with a high-speed beam of calcium ions in a linear accelerator.

Q: What is the significance of creating Element 117?

The creation of Element 117 represents the expansion of our knowledge of the periodic table and the generation of new matter. It showcases advancements in scientific research and discovery.

Q: What is the process for naming the new element?

The new element is currently named ununseptium (117), but the official name will be determined through a verification process and an open discussion moderated by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

Q: What can be inferred about the chemistry of Element 117?

Element 117 likely belongs to the halogens group on the periodic table, indicating its propensity to form anions by gaining an extra electron. Its physical properties are expected to be metallic or metalloid, exhibiting a dark and lustrous appearance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Element 117, Uus, which has never been observed before, was successfully created by scientists in Russia.

• The element is synthetic, meaning it is not found naturally on Earth and can only be produced in a laboratory setting.

• The discovery required a collaborative effort between scientists from the United States and Russia and involved the use of a linear accelerator to generate the new element.