Confirmation of four new elements completes seventh row of periodic table

jamison20000e · 01-12-2016, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Confirmation that four new elements those with atomic numbers 113, 115, 117 and 118 have indeed been synthesised has come from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Iupac), completing the seventh row of the periodic table.

... All four are highly unstable superheavy metals that exist for only a fraction of a second. ...

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/20...enth-row-iupac

Keith Hedger · 01-12-2016, 04:41 PM

Heavy man!

enorbet · 01-13-2016, 04:03 AM

Thanks for the heads-up and link. "Island of Stability" is such a cool concept

sundialsvcs · 01-14-2016, 01:28 PM

Dunno ... if a collection of subatomic particles only clings together for a few nanoseconds before flying apart, is it really "an element?"

jamison20000e · 01-14-2016, 02:02 PM

Doesn't make them any less real. Stepping stones fade with time as well...

Keith Hedger · 01-14-2016, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundialsvcs

Dunno ... if a collection of subatomic particles only clings together for a few nanoseconds before flying apart, is it really "an element?"

By the same argument some ( a lot of ) sub atomic particles only exist for small fractions of a second, does that mean that they don't exist?

jamison20000e · 01-14-2016, 05:04 PM

Some concepts were thought up before the advent of microscopes but they still blow minds...

enorbet · 01-14-2016, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundialsvcs

Dunno ... if a collection of subatomic particles only clings together for a few nanoseconds before flying apart, is it really "an element?"

I don't think the time of existence stands alone but is rather affected by conditions. These elements may well exist for substantially longer periods of time within some supernovae. This is why the concept of "Islands of Stability" may turn out to be so important since it is best if the transitional elements can be documented. It may come to nothing but a lab curiosity but presently has equal odds of being important steps to the discovery of unique and useful heavier elements.