Nihonium
Definition and meaning of Nihonium in chemistry.
Nihonium is a synthetic radioactive element possessing the symbol Nh and atomic number 113. It is an artificially produced superheavy element created exclusively in controlled laboratory environments, and no naturally occurring primordial isotopes exist on Earth.
In more detail
Nihonium resides in group 13 and period 7 of the periodic table, placing it directly beneath thallium in the boron group. While it is formally categorized as a post-transition metal in standard chemical families, its actual chemical properties are heavily influenced by strong relativistic effects. Theoretical models predict that it will exhibit a +1 oxidation state in most compounds, differing from the typical +3 state seen in lighter group 13 elements like aluminum. It undergoes rapid alpha decay, with the most stable known isotope, nihonium-286, having a half-life of approximately 10 seconds. The intense radioactivity and incredibly limited production yield make it entirely unfeasible to study its bulk physical characteristics using current technology.
Key facts
| Field | General Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Nh |
| Atomic number | 113 |
| Atomic mass | [286] u |
| Category | Unknown |
| State at room temperature | Expected to be a solid |
| Year discovered | 2003 |
| Discoverer | Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and RIKEN |
Nihonium is created atom by atom in particle accelerators, typically by bombarding bismuth-209 with a beam of zinc-70 ions, for pure scientific inquiry.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the name nihonium come from?
The name is derived from Nihon, one of the two ways to say Japan in Japanese, honoring the RIKEN institute where it was isolated.
Is nihonium dangerous?
It would be highly dangerous due to intense radioactivity, but it only exists for seconds in controlled laboratory settings.