The 4 Newest Elements & What They Do

Summary

The script discusses the latest updates to the periodic table, including the naming of elements 113 to 118. It explains the difficulty in creating super-heavy elements, the process of using particle accelerators to smash atoms together, and the instability of larger atomic nuclei. The script also touches on the role of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry in approving and naming new elements, and hints at the challenges of creating elements with atomic numbers 119 and above.

Takeaways

• 📚 The periodic table of elements is no longer accurate and requires an update due to the naming of the final four elements on the seventh row.
• 💸 To get the latest information, one might need to purchase a new $700 textbook.
• 🔬 The four new elements have atomic numbers 113, 115, 117, and 118, and were named Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson respectively.
• 🌐 The creation of these elements involved international collaboration and the use of particle accelerators to smash lighter elements together.
• 🔍 The process of creating new elements is challenging, requiring millions of collisions to produce a single atom of a new element.
• ⏳ Super-heavy elements are unstable and decay rapidly, making their detection and evidence collection crucial for their official recognition.
• 📊 Scientists use the radiation released during decay, such as alpha particles, to measure and confirm the creation of new elements.
• 🏆 The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is the official entity that approves and names new elements.
• 📝 Naming new elements follows specific rules, allowing scientists to choose names related to myths, minerals, places, properties, or other scientists.
• 🔮 The pursuit of creating element 119 and beyond is the next challenge, but it may be limited by current technology and the need for new methods to stabilize and manipulate larger atoms.

Q & A

What is the significance of the periodic table of elements in chemistry?

The periodic table of elements is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements organized on the basis of their atomic number, electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties. It is a fundamental tool in chemistry that helps in understanding the relationships between elements and predicting their behaviors.

Why do we need to update our chemistry textbooks according to the script?

The script mentions that the periodic table has changed with the naming of the final four elements on the seventh row, which may not be present or named in older textbooks. Therefore, to reflect the current state of scientific knowledge, textbooks need to be updated.

Which four elements were given names in the script?

The four elements with atomic numbers 113, 115, 117, and 118 were given names: Nihonium (Nh), Moscovium (Mc), Tennessine (Ts), and Oganesson (Og).

What is the process of creating new super-heavy elements as described in the script?

The process involves using particle accelerators to smash lighter elements together. It can take millions of collisions to create a single atom of a new element, and these atoms are often unstable and decay quickly.

Why are super-heavy elements unstable and prone to decay?

Super-heavy elements are unstable because the forces holding the neutrons and protons in the nucleus together are not strong enough to maintain cohesion over longer distances when there are more particles, leading to decay into smaller nuclei.

How do scientists collect evidence of the creation of new super-heavy elements?

Scientists collect evidence by recording the radiation released as a new element decays. They measure the number of alpha particles emitted and the energy of these particles to infer the size and properties of the original atom.

What is the role of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in naming new elements?

The IUPAC is the official entity that approves the creation of new elements and allows the scientists who made the discovery to propose a name, following specific rules that can include references to myths, minerals, places, properties, or scientists.

What are the names and origins of the four newly named elements as mentioned in the script?

Element 113 is named Nihonium after 'Nihon', the Japanese word for 'Land of the Rising Sun'. Element 115 is Moscovium, honoring Moscow. Element 117 is Tennessine, named for labs in Tennessee. Element 118 is Oganesson, named after Yuri Oganessian.

What challenges do scientists face in creating elements beyond the seventh row of the periodic table?

Scientists face challenges in creating elements beyond the seventh row due to the increasing instability of super-heavy elements and the limitations of current particle accelerators and measurement devices. They need to develop methods to stabilize, manipulate, and collide larger atoms.

What is the next element that scientists are aiming to create according to the script?

The next element scientists are aiming to create is element 119, which is part of the eighth row of the periodic table with atomic numbers 119 and above.