Researchers may have found a way to create a new super-heavy element, known as “element 120”, which would be so heavy that it would have to be placed in a new row in periodic table of elements. If they can create this hypothetical element, its atoms could represent an “island of stability” that could revolutionize the chemistry of heavy elements.
There are currently 118 known elements listed in the periodic table; BY hydrogenwhich has a single proton in its nucleus, up to organizedwhich was officially named in 2016 and has at least 194 subatomic particles packed into its centers ATOM (118 protons and at least 176 neutrons).
However, researchers know that, theoretically, there should be even larger elements in the cosmos – and they have even predicted what these elements will look like and how they will act. But to find them, we either have to discover new ways to synthesize them on Earth or scour the solar system for their possible location.
The two most promising potential element candidates are element 119, tentatively called ununennium, and element 120, otherwise known as unbinilium. These elements are so massive that they do not fit in any of them seven rows that make up the periodic table. If created, they will be added to a new eighth row in the icon table. However, none has been synthesized, despite numerous attempts.
Related: Why are rare earth elements so rare?
In a new study, published on October 21 in the journal Physical review papersresearchers demonstrated a new technique for creating the super-heavy element livermorium (element 116) by bombarding plutonium-244, an isotope of plutonium with additional neutrons, with vaporized ions, or charged atoms, of titanium.
The researchers think the same technique could be used to create unbinilium, by hunting titanium ions in isotopes of Californiawhich is heavier than plutonium. The new study is an important proof of concept that will allow scientists to increase their search for the hypothetical element, they wrote.
“This reaction had never been demonstrated before, and it was essential to prove that it was possible before we began our attempt to [element] 120”, the main author of the study Jacklyn Gatesa nuclear scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in California, said in a STATEMENT. “Creating a new element is an extremely rare achievement. It’s exciting to be a part of the process and to have a promising path ahead.”
However, it may be some time before researchers create unbinilium. In this study, it took more than 22 days to create just two livermorium atoms inside Berkeley Lab’s 88-inch Cyclotron machine, which continuously fired titanium ions into the plutonium isotope. However, it may take even longer for unbinilium to form.
“We think it will take about 10 times as long to do it [element] 120 se [element] 116,” co-author of the study Reiner Krueckena nuclear scientist at Berkeley Lab, said in the statement. “It’s not easy, but it seems feasible now.”
Normally, extra-heavy elements disintegrate quickly after forming because they are so unstable. However, the researchers predict that once the elements reach a certain size, they will reach an “island of stability” where they will remain intact significantly longer than the currently known super-heavy isotopes.
Unbinilium is expected to reach this island of stability, meaning its creation would open up a number of opportunities for the search for superheavy elements, the study’s authors said. However, there is also the possibility that the hypothetical element will not behave as expected.
“When we’re trying to make these ultra-rare elements, we’re at the absolute edge of human knowledge and understanding, and there’s no guarantee that the physics will work out the way we expect,” study co-author. Jennifer Porea nuclear scientist at Berkeley Lab, said in the statement.
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