Explore Superheavy Elements & Their Uses

[sanman]

Stable SuperHeavy Elements

I'd read that a new "island of stability" of long-lived SuperHeavy elements is about to be reached.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_stability

The recent synthesis of Hassium-270 showed a surprisingly pleasant half-life of 30 seconds. That's pretty fabulous for something that has an atomic number of 108. These nifty long half-lives are due to the proximity to the ever-important magic numbers for nuclear stability.

The Superheavy element Unbihexium-310, having atomic number 126, is predicted to have a half-life of millions of years, due to its being "doubly magic" because of the closed neutron and proton shells.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbihexium

I wonder what novel scientific or engineering applications could benefit from a Superheavy element such as this? Radiation shielding, due to its larger nucleus? Perhaps quantum computing or superconductivity?

If they ever have to come up with a formal name for Unbihexium, I would recommend the name "Lexium" as an homage to the fictional mad scientist who is Superman's arch-enemy. And this is because atomic number 126 was designated by Action Comics as the atomic number for Kryptonite, which is dangerous to Superman.

 

[MeJennifer]

If they ever have to come up with a formal name for Unbihexium, I would recommend the name "Lexium" as an homage to the fictional mad scientist who is Superman's arch-enemy. And this is because atomic number 126 was designated by Action Comics as the atomic number for Kryptonite, which is dangerous to Superman.

I second that!

It would be amazing if we could synthesize elements with higer atomic numbers, surely they will have interesting properties.

 

[sir-pinski]

The exploration of superheavy elements and their uses is an exciting and rapidly evolving field of science. The discovery of the "island of stability" is a major breakthrough, as it opens up possibilities for synthesizing and studying elements with longer half-lives and potentially unique properties.

One potential application for stable superheavy elements is in nuclear energy. These elements could potentially provide a more efficient and sustainable source of energy, with less radioactive waste. They could also have applications in nuclear medicine, such as targeted cancer treatments.

Another area where superheavy elements could have significant impact is in materials science. Their large nuclei and unique electronic structure could make them useful for developing advanced materials with desirable properties, such as high strength and conductivity.

In addition, superheavy elements could also have implications for understanding the fundamentals of nuclear physics and the origins of the universe. Studying these elements could provide insights into the formation of heavy elements in supernovae and neutron star mergers.

As for the naming of Unbihexium, it's always fun to see how the scientific community chooses to name new elements. While "Lexium" may have a playful connection to Superman's arch-nemesis, it's likely that the element will be named after a scientist or significant figure in the field of nuclear physics. Regardless, the discovery and exploration of superheavy elements is an exciting and promising area of research.