Bohrium
Definition and meaning of Bohrium in chemistry.
Bohrium is a synthetic chemical element with the symbol Bh and atomic number 107. It is a highly radioactive transition metal that must be artificially synthesized in a laboratory setting using heavy-ion accelerators.
In more detail
Bohrium is positioned in group 7 of the periodic table, directly below rhenium and adjacent to seaborgium. Its extremely short half-life makes bulk chemical and physical characterization impossible, requiring highly specialized atom-at-a-time experimental techniques to study its properties. Chemical studies utilizing gas thermochromatography have demonstrated that bohrium forms volatile oxychlorides, confirming its expected chemical behavior as a heavier homologue to rhenium in group 7. It is synthesized by fusing heavy target elements, such as bombarding bismuth or californium targets with chromium or boron ions. It does not exist in nature and decays very quickly through alpha emission or spontaneous fission. Relativistic effects strongly influence its electron configuration and bonding characteristics, although it largely conforms to the expected chemical trends of the typical transition metals.
Key facts
| Field | General Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Bh |
| Atomic number | 107 |
| Atomic mass | [270] u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Year discovered | 1981 |
| State at room temperature | Solid (predicted) |
| Named after | Niels Bohr |
| Oxidation states | +7 (predicted most stable) |
Bohrium has no commercial, medical, or industrial uses and is created strictly for advanced scientific research to understand the fundamental chemistry and stability of superheavy elements.
Frequently asked questions
Why is bohrium so difficult to study?
Bohrium is exceedingly difficult to study because it is highly radioactive, and its isotopes decay within seconds or minutes, meaning only a few solitary atoms can be examined at a given time.
Where does bohrium sit on the periodic table of elements?
Bohrium is located in the d-block of the periodic table, specifically in group 7 and period 7, making it a heavy transition metal with properties similar to rhenium.