Livermorium
Definition and meaning of Livermorium in chemistry.
![Livermorium element card: symbol Lv, atomic number 116, atomic mass [293], electron configuration [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁴, Unknown, group 16, period 7.](/assets/images/terms/livermorium-chemical-element.webp)
Livermorium is a human-made, highly radioactive element with the symbol Lv and atomic number 116. Scientists create this superheavy metal artificially inside powerful high-energy nuclear accelerators. It does not exist naturally anywhere in the observable universe.
In more detail
Livermorium sits in group 16 and period 7 of the periodic table, right below polonium. Scientists classify it as a superheavy chalcogen, which means it belongs to the oxygen group. However, livermorium acts very differently from lighter elements like oxygen or sulfur.
Its daily behavior depends almost entirely on its extreme nuclear instability. The heavy atom's nucleus breaks apart almost instantly after it forms. Researchers must use complex physics math called relativistic modeling to predict its traits.
These mathematical models show its chemical properties will deviate from regular chalcogens. For example, it likely prefers a +2 oxidation state over +4 or +6 states. The most stable known version, or isotope, is livermorium-293.
This specific isotope has a very short half-life of roughly 53 milliseconds. After this tiny fraction of a second, it decays into another element called flerovium. It decays through alpha emission by rapidly shooting out a small helium nucleus.
Because livermorium disappears so quickly, nobody has ever seen a visible piece of it. Scientists must use computer programs to estimate its physical traits. These estimates include its overall density, melting point, and macroscopic appearance. They expect it to look like a solid metal.
Key facts
| Field | General Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Lv |
| Atomic number | 116 |
| Atomic mass | [293] u |
| Category | Unknown |
| State at room temperature | Expected to be a solid |
| Year discovered | 2000 |
Scientific teams synthesize livermorium by smashing two different elements together at very high speeds. They direct a high-energy beam of calcium-48 ions at a curium-248 target. The calcium and curium nuclei crash into each other and fuse together. This extreme collision process creates just a few atoms of livermorium at a time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does livermorium last?
Its most stable known isotope lasts for only about 53 milliseconds. After that tiny fraction of a second, it decays into a different element.
What is livermorium used for?
Livermorium has no practical commercial applications right now. Scientists produce it solely to expand our basic understanding of atomic nuclei.
Related terms
Sources & references
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