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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