Posted on 10/19/2006 8:39:08 AM PDT by presidio9
By firing atoms of metal at another metal, Russian and American scientists have discovered a new element -- No. 118 on the Periodic Table -- that is the heaviest substance known and probably hasn't existed since the universe was in its infancy.
Ununoctium, as the new element is temporarily named, has no known use but inspired almost a decade-long pursuit by scientists on four continents. Controversy in the course of its discovery hobbled the career of one physicist, sparked questions about scientific ethics and almost destroyed the world's most productive team of element hunters.
So far, science has gotten a fair measure of trouble out of Element 118 for something that destroys itself in a few thousands of a second. Yet creating the new element -- all three atoms of it -- confirmed the difficulty of finding a theorized family of super-heavy but stable elements.
``I think of this as any other journey to a new place,'' said Lawrence Livermore lab nuclear chemist and team member Nancy Stoyer. ``Why do you want to go to the moon? Why do you want to go to the top of Mount Everest? Finding it is something new, something interesting.''
Because the three atoms of Element 118 existed on average just under a thousandth of a second, scientists doubt they'll ever know much about it.
They sought an ``island of stability'' that the late master of element hunters, Nobel prize-winning Berkeley physicist Glenn Seaborg, had reasoned should be there -- a cluster of manmade elements with such a harmonious number of neutrons and protons that their nuclei didn't instantly self destruct.
Most of the super-heavy elements that scientists create in atom-smashing machines are so jammed with protons and neutrons that their nuclei look like wobbling footballs and Frisbees, inclined to crack apart easily. Nuclei
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
I suspect you have too low of numbers for both 120 and 122.
All that just for the fame that goes with "discovering" a new element?
"a cluster of manmade elements with such a harmonious number of neutrons and protons that their nuclei didn't instantly self destruct."
Sounds like trying to make a column of shaving cream. If only they can pile it high enough, it won't fall over.
When will Wal-Mart stock this stuff?
Un-un-oct-ium = 1 - 1 - 8 - ium.
But I like your suggestion.
I must disagree that this is a wasted effort. If an island of stability is found in an element off the end of the current chart of elements, it could very well have useful properties. Even if not, this type of basic research is one of the reasons we exist as a species IMO. Better than wasting my tax money on bridges to nowhere. I'd be willing to bet good money that less tax money was spent by these researchers than the aforementioned taxpayer financed boondoggle.
Not a bad idea IMO.
I'm still interested in seeing if there are any non-transitives beyond the end of the current PT as now known .
Glad my Chemistry Regents exams are far in my past. One more element to memorize might put me over the edge.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.