Nihonium

Nihonium is a synthetic chemical element with the symbol Nh and atomic number 113. It is a highly radioactive element and is placed in the Periodic Table in the p-block, belonging to the 7th period and group 13, making it a part of the Post-transition metals. Nihonium was first synthesized in 2004 by a team of Russian and American scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, and later confirmed by a team of Japanese scientists at the RIKEN institute. The name "Nihonium" originates from "Nihon," which is one of the two ways to say "Japan" in Japanese, honoring the country where it was discovered.

Properties

Nihonium is expected to be a solid under normal conditions but has not been observed in macroscopic quantities, and its properties have not been conclusively studied. Theoretical calculations suggest that Nihonium and its compounds might exhibit some metallic characteristics, similar to its lighter homologs in the group, such as Thallium. Due to its position in the periodic table, it is anticipated to have a +1 oxidation state in most of its compounds.

Synthesis and Discovery

The discovery of Nihonium was a result of collaborative efforts between scientists from different countries. The first successful synthesis was achieved by bombarding a target of Americium (Am) with ions of Calcium (Ca) in a particle accelerator. The reaction produced a single atom of Nihonium:

\[ \,^{243}_{95}Am + \,^{48}_{20}Ca \rightarrow \,^{286}_{113}Nh + 5 \,^{1}_{0}n \]

This synthesis was later confirmed by independent experiments, leading to the official recognition of the discovery by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the naming of the element in 2016.

Applications

Due to its extreme rarity and radioactivity, Nihonium has no commercial applications and is used primarily for scientific research purposes. The study of Nihonium and its properties provides valuable insights into the behavior of elements in the superheavy region of the periodic table, contributing to the understanding of the underlying principles of nuclear physics and chemistry.

Safety

Nihonium is a highly radioactive element, and its isotopes have very short half-lives, decaying into lighter elements through alpha decay. Handling of Nihonium, like other superheavy elements, requires specialized facilities and strict safety protocols to protect researchers from radiation exposure.

See Also

• Synthetic elements
• Periodic table
• Radioactivity
• Particle accelerator

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