Feynmanium (?) - Periodic Table of Videos

TL;DR

Element 117, which was recently synthesized by scientists, presents the opportunity to name the element after a renowned physicist, Richard Feynman.

Transcript

so Now's the Time to put in your bid for the name for element 117 I think it would be really good to name an element after Richard feineman so you could have the element fem manium with the element symbol I think FY would be quite nice I'm particularly excited about element 117 you might ask why but 17 was the only element in the periodic table whe... Read More

Key Insights

• 💄 Element 117 had never been observed before this synthesis project, making it an exciting discovery.
• 🤩 International collaboration and sharing of resources played a key role in the successful synthesis of element 117.
• 💥 The choice of elements for collision experiments is driven by their strength and the likelihood of fragmentation.

Questions & Answers

Q: How was element 117 synthesized?

Element 117 was synthesized by colliding calcium atoms with a sample of berkelium. The atoms of calcium were accelerated in a German accelerator, and when they collided with the sample of berkelium, a few atoms of element 117 were created.

Q: Why is berkelium chosen as the key element for synthesis?

Berkelium is chosen due to its heavy atomic number and radioactivity. It allows for a higher chance of successful synthesis, and its short half-life ensures that experiments are carried out promptly.

Q: How is element decay observed?

Elements decay by emitting alpha particles, which are helium atom nuclei. The mass of the atom decreases by four units during decay, leading to a transformation into a different element.

Q: Who gets to name the new elements?

A joint committee of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the corresponding physics organization decides whether the evidence is sufficient. If accepted, the discoverers choose the name for the element.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Element 117 is the focus of this content, as it has never been observed before in any form.

• Scientists in Russia and Germany successfully synthesized a few atoms of element 117 by colliding calcium atoms with a sample of berkelium.

• The challenge of working with berkelium lies in its high radioactivity and short half-life, making the experiments time-sensitive.