Copernicium: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:45, 15 February 2025

Copernicium[edit]

Copernicium is a synthetic chemical element with the symbol Cn and atomic number 112. It is an extremely radioactive element that can only be created in a laboratory. Copernicium is named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at its center.

Discovery[edit]

Copernicium was first synthesized on February 9, 1996, by the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. The team, led by Sigurd Hofmann, bombarded lead-208 with zinc-70 ions to produce one atom of copernicium-277.

Properties[edit]

Copernicium is expected to be a transition metal and is part of the d-block of the periodic table. Due to its position in the periodic table, it is predicted to have properties similar to those of mercury, its lighter homolog. However, due to its short half-life, many of its properties have not been observed directly.

Isotopes[edit]

The most stable known isotope of copernicium is copernicium-285, which has a half-life of approximately 29 seconds. Several other isotopes have been synthesized, with mass numbers ranging from 277 to 285.

Chemical Behavior[edit]

The chemical properties of copernicium are not well known due to its short half-life and the difficulty in producing it in significant quantities. It is expected to be a noble metal and may exhibit a noble gas configuration in its gaseous state.

Related pages[edit]

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-'''Copernicium''' is a [[chemical element]] with the symbol Cn and [[atomic number]] 112. It is a synthetic element, meaning it is not found in nature but created in a laboratory. The element is named after the astronomer [[Nicolaus Copernicus]], in recognition of his contributions to the field of astronomy. Copernicium is one of the [[transactinide elements]] and is located in the [[periodic table]] in the [[d-block]], specifically in the 7th period and group 12. It is a member of the [[transition metals]].
+== Copernicium ==
-==Properties==
+[[File:Nikolaus_Kopernikus.jpg|thumb|right|Nikolaus Kopernikus, after whom copernicium is named]]
-Copernicium is a highly radioactive element and has only been produced in minute amounts. Its most stable known [[isotope]], copernicium-285, has a half-life of approximately 29 seconds, although there is evidence suggesting that another isotope, copernicium-277, might have a slightly longer half-life. The chemical properties of copernicium are not well understood due to its short half-life and the limited amount of the element that can be produced. However, it is predicted to be a [[noble metal]] and may have properties similar to those of [[mercury]], its lighter homolog in the periodic table. Theoretical calculations suggest that copernicium could be a liquid at room temperature, making it one of the few elements in the periodic table with this property.
-==Discovery==
+'''Copernicium''' is a synthetic chemical element with the symbol '''Cn''' and atomic number 112. It is an extremely radioactive element that can only be created in a laboratory. Copernicium is named after the astronomer [[Nicolaus Copernicus]], who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at its center.
-Copernicium was first discovered in 1996 by a team of scientists led by [[Sigurd Hofmann]] at the [[Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung]] (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany. The element was produced by bombarding lead atoms with zinc ions in a heavy ion accelerator. The discovery was significant because it added to the understanding of the structure of the atomic nucleus and the limits of the periodic table.
-==Synthesis and Isotopes==
+=== Discovery ===
-The synthesis of copernicium involves a nuclear reaction where zinc ions are accelerated and collided with a target made of lead. This process results in the fusion of the nuclei of the two elements, creating an atom of copernicium. Several isotopes of copernicium have been synthesized, with atomic masses ranging from 277 to 285. The production of copernicium is a complex and challenging process, requiring sophisticated equipment and technology.
+Copernicium was first synthesized on February 9, 1996, by the [[GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research]] in [[Darmstadt]], [[Germany]]. The team, led by [[Sigurd Hofmann]], bombarded [[lead]]-208 with [[zinc]]-70 ions to produce one atom of copernicium-277.
-==Applications==
+=== Properties ===
-Due to its extreme rarity, short half-life, and radioactivity, copernicium has no practical applications outside of scientific research. The study of copernicium and other heavy elements is important for understanding the properties of atoms at the limits of the periodic table and for testing theoretical models of nuclear structure.
+Copernicium is expected to be a [[transition metal]] and is part of the [[d-block]] of the periodic table. Due to its position in the periodic table, it is predicted to have properties similar to those of [[mercury]], its lighter homolog. However, due to its short half-life, many of its properties have not been observed directly.
-==See Also==
+=== Isotopes ===
-* [[Transuranium element]]
+The most stable known isotope of copernicium is copernicium-285, which has a half-life of approximately 29 seconds. Several other isotopes have been synthesized, with mass numbers ranging from 277 to 285.
+=== Chemical Behavior ===
+The chemical properties of copernicium are not well known due to its short half-life and the difficulty in producing it in significant quantities. It is expected to be a [[noble metal]] and may exhibit a [[noble gas]] configuration in its gaseous state.
+== Related pages ==
 * [[Periodic table]]
-* [[Nuclear reaction]]
+* [[Synthetic element]]
-* [[Isotope]]
+* [[Transition metal]]
+* [[GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research]]
-==References==
-<references/>
 [[Category:Chemical elements]]
+[[Category:Synthetic elements]]
 [[Category:Transition metals]]
-[[Category:Synthetic elements]]
-{{Element-stub}}