Copernicium (Cn) - Discovery, Occurrence, Production, Properties and Applications of Copernicium

Topics Covered

Chemical Formula
Background
Basic Information
Occurrence
Isotopes
Production
Health Aspects
Key Properties
Applications
References

Chemical Formula

Cn

Background

Copernicium was discovered on 9 February 1996 by a group of research scientists working at the Heavy Ion Research Laboratory in Darmstadt, Germany under the guidance of Sigurd Hofmann. The new element was named after mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

Basic Information

Name Copernicium
Symbol Cn
Atomic number 112
Atomic weight [ 285 ]
Standard state presumably a liquid at 298 K
CAS Registry ID 54084-26-3
Group in periodic table 12
Group name none
Period in periodic table 7
Block in periodic table d-block
Color unknown, but is likely to be metallic and silvery white or grey in appearance
Classification Metallic
Melting point Unknown
Boiling point Unknown
Density Unknown
Phase at room temperature Expected to be a solid

Occurrence

Copernicium is a highly radioactive metal and only a few atoms have ever been produced.

Copernicium - Periodic Table of Videos

Isotopes

Copernicium is said to have five isotopes whose half-lives are known with mass numbers from 277 to 285. All five are unstable. However copernicium-285, is the most stable isotope with a half-life of 34 sec. It decays into darmstadtium-281 through alpha decay.

Production

Scientists bombarded lead-208 nuclei with zinc-70 nuclei in a heavy ion accelerator, which resulted in a single atom of copernicium-277.

Health Aspects

Copernicium is considered to be harmful due to its radioactive nature. However it has not been properly researched to provide specific details regarding its health effects.

Key Properties

Copernicium is a synthetic radioactive metal.

Applications

Currently, copernicium has no applications outside the realm of scientific research.

References

http://www.webelements.com/copernicium/

http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele112.html

http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/112/copernicium

http://www.chemicool.com/elements/Copernicium.html

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G.P. Thomas

Written by

G.P. Thomas

Gary graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class honours degree in Geochemistry and a Masters in Earth Sciences. After working in the Australian mining industry, Gary decided to hang up his geology boots and turn his hand to writing. When he isn't developing topical and informative content, Gary can usually be found playing his beloved guitar, or watching Aston Villa FC snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

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