The chemical element copernicium is classed as a transition metal. It was discovered in 1996 by research scientists led by Sigurd Hofmann.
Data Zone
| Classification: | Copernicium is a transition metal |
| Color: | |
| Atomic weight: | (285), no stable isotopes |
| State: | solid (presumed) |
| Melting point: | |
| Boiling point: | |
| Electrons: | 112 |
| Protons: | 112 |
| Neutrons in most abundant isotope: | 173 |
| Electron shells: | 2,8,18,32,32,18,2 |
| Electron configuration: | [Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 |
| Density @ 20oC: |
Compounds, Radii, Conductivities
| Atomic volume: | – |
| Structure: | – |
| Hardness: | – |
| Specific heat capacity | – |
| Heat of fusion | – |
| Heat of atomization | – |
| Heat of vaporization | – |
| 1st ionization energy | – |
| 2nd ionization energy | – |
| 3rd ionization energy | – |
| Electron affinity | – |
| Minimum oxidation number | – |
| Min. common oxidation no. | – |
| Maximum oxidation number | – |
| Max. common oxidation no. | – |
| Electronegativity (Pauling Scale) | – |
| Polarizability volume | – |
| Reaction with air | – |
| Reaction with 15 M HNO3 | – |
| Reaction with 6 M HCl | – |
| Reaction with 6 M NaOH | – |
| Oxide(s) | – |
| Hydride(s) | – |
| Chloride(s) | – |
| Atomic radius | – |
| Ionic radius (1+ ion) | – |
| Ionic radius (2+ ion) | – |
| Ionic radius (3+ ion) | – |
| Ionic radius (1- ion) | – |
| Ionic radius (2- ion) | – |
| Ionic radius (3- ion) | – |
| Thermal conductivity | – |
| Electrical conductivity | – |
| Freezing/Melting point: | – |
Discovery of Copernicium
Copernicium was first made by research scientists led by Sigurd Hofmann at the Heavy Ion Research Laboratory in Darmstadt, Germany in 1996.
Scientists bombarded lead-208 nuclei with zinc-70 nuclei in a heavy ion accelerator.
A single atom of copernicium-277 resulted from the bombardment.
Atoms of copernicium-281, copernicium-281 and copernicium-284 have been recorded more recently as decay products of flerovium.
The element is named after astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus.
Copernicium is named after Nicolaus Copernicus, who began the scientific revolution with his hypothesis that the earth orbits the sun. Painting below by Jan Matejko.
Appearance and Characteristics
Harmful effects:
Copernicium is harmful due to its radioactivity.
Characteristics:
Copernicium is a synthetic radioactive metal and has only been produced in minute amounts.
Uses of Actinium
Copernicium is of research interest only.
Abundance and Isotopes
Abundance earth’s crust: nil
Abundance solar system: parts per billion by weight, parts per trillion by moles
Cost, pure: $ per 100g
Cost, bulk: $ per 100g
Source: Copernicium is a synthetic radioactive metal, created via nuclear bombardment, and has only been produced in minute amounts. Copernicium is produced by bombarding 208Pb with 70Zn in a heavy ion accelerator.
Isotopes: Copernicium has 5 isotopes whose half-lives are known with mass numbers from 277 to 285. None are stable. The most stable isotope is 285Cn, with a half-life of 34 seconds.
References
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