Copernicium
Definition and meaning of Copernicium in chemistry.
Copernicium is a highly radioactive, synthetic superheavy element with the chemical symbol Cn and atomic number 112. It is an extremely short-lived metal that does not occur naturally on Earth and is created only in particle accelerators.
In more detail
Located in group 12 and period 7 of the periodic table, copernicium is classified as a transition metal and follows roentgenium. It is positioned directly below zinc, cadmium, and mercury, but strong relativistic effects heavily influence its behavior. Theoretical calculations suggest it is a very volatile metal that may exist as a gas or a highly volatile liquid at room temperature. Its chemical behavior is expected to resemble that of a noble gas more closely than a typical transition metal, possibly showing a stable +2 oxidation state. The most stable known isotope, copernicium-285, has a half-life of roughly 28 seconds and decays rapidly via alpha emission. Because of its extremely short half-life and minuscule production yields, bulk chemical studies are currently impossible, restricting research to single-atom gas-phase chromatography.
Key facts
| Field | General Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Cn |
| Atomic number | 112 |
| Atomic mass | [285] u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| State at room temperature | Expected to be gas or highly volatile liquid |
| Year discovered | 1996 |
| Discoverer | GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research |
Copernicium is produced in minute quantities for scientific research by bombarding lead-208 targets with zinc-70 ions in heavy-ion accelerators.
Frequently asked questions
How is copernicium made?
It is created in a laboratory by bombarding lead targets with a beam of zinc ions.
What is copernicium used for?
Its use is restricted entirely to basic scientific research due to its extreme radioactivity and very short half-life.