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Flerovium-Discovery, Properties, And Applications

October 18, 2023
written by Adeel abbas

Flerovium is a synthetic element with the symbol Fl and atomic number 114. It is named after the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions in Dubna, Russia. Flerovium is a member of the 7th period and the p-block of the periodic table.

image of flerovium element
PropertyValue
NameFlerovium
SymbolFl
Atomic number114
Relative atomic mass (Ar)Period in the periodic table
Standard statePresumably a solid at 298 K
AppearanceUnknown, probably metallic and silvery white or grey in appearance
ClassificationMetallic
Block in the periodic table14
Group name(none)
Group in the periodic table7
Block in periodic tablep
Shell structure2.8.18.32.32.18.4
CAS Registry54085-16-4

Discovery

Flerovium was first synthesized in 1998 by a joint team of Russian and American scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The team bombarded plutonium-244 with calcium-48 ions to produce flerovium-289.

Physical Properties

Flerovium is a highly unstable element, and its properties are largely unknown. It is expected to be a solid at room temperature and a dense metal with a silvery appearance.

Chemical Properties

Flerovium is a highly reactive element that readily reacts with most non-metals, particularly halogens. It is also expected to be more reactive than lead, which it follows in the periodic table.

Facts

  • Flerovium is named after Georgy Flyorov, a Russian physicist who was instrumental in the discovery of superheavy elements.
  • The most stable isotope of flerovium has a half-life of only 3.3 seconds.
  • Flerovium is one of the rarest elements on Earth, and only a few atoms have ever been produced.

Applications

Flerovium has no known practical applications, and its study is purely scientific. Its extreme rarity and instability make it unlikely to have any industrial or commercial uses.