NOVA scienceNOW : 19 - Island Of Stability

Summary

The video script explores the quest for element 114 on the periodic table, delving into the challenges of creating new elements and the concept of an 'island of stability.' It features nuclear chemist Ken Moody, who, inspired by his mentor Dr. Glenn Seaborg, aims to leap over the 'sea of instability' to reach this stable, super heavy element. The script discusses the process of atomic collision, the role of protons and neutrons, and the potential properties and applications of element 114, which could revolutionize our understanding of nuclear physics.

Takeaways

• 🔬 The periodic table lists all known elements, each defined by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in its atoms.
• 🌌 Elements are created by the Big Bang, stars, or scientists in laboratories.
• 🔍 Ken Moody is a nuclear chemist dedicated to discovering new elements and filling in the gaps at the top of the periodic table.
• 🏆 Glenn Seaborg was a pioneer in creating new elements, earning a Nobel Prize for his work.
• 🚀 Elements beyond a certain point become increasingly unstable due to the repulsive force between protons.
• 🤔 The 'sea of instability' is a theoretical concept that describes the difficulty in creating elements with many protons.
• 🎯 The concept of 'magic numbers' refers to certain numbers of protons and neutrons that provide extra stability to an element's nucleus.
• 🌟 Element 114 is predicted to have a 'doubly magic' nucleus, suggesting it could be incredibly stable despite its size.
• 🧭 Seaborg's approach to creating new elements involved adding particles one at a time, but this method became ineffective for heavier elements.
• 💥 Modern attempts to create element 114 involve smashing calcium ions into plutonium targets at high speeds.
• 🔮 The discovery of element 114 could lead to new materials with properties we haven't yet imagined.

Q & A

What is the significance of the periodic table in chemistry?

The periodic table lists all known elements, and what makes an element unique is the number of protons each atom contains, known as its atomic number.

Why can't we just keep adding protons to create new elements?

Adding more protons to an atom becomes increasingly difficult due to the repulsive force between positively charged protons. This force can destabilize the atom, making it hard to create new, stable elements.

Who is Ken Moody and what is his role in the story?

Ken Moody is a nuclear chemist whose passion is filling in the blanks at the upper reaches of the periodic table. He has been on a quest to discover element 114 for over two decades.

What was Dr. Glenn Seaborg's contribution to the periodic table?

Dr. Glenn Seaborg created elements 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 101, and 102, winning a Nobel Prize for his pioneering work and creating more elements than any human before him.

What is the 'sea of instability' mentioned in the script?

The 'sea of instability' is a term used by Seaborg to describe the difficulty in creating elements with many protons, where the repulsive forces cause the atoms to fall apart very quickly.

What is a 'doubly magic' nucleus?

A 'doubly magic' nucleus is one where both the number of protons and neutrons are at magic numbers, providing the maximum stability for the nucleus.

What is the 'island of stability' and why is it significant?

The 'island of stability' is a theoretical region in the chart of nuclei where superheavy elements are predicted to be more stable than their neighbors. It is significant because elements in this region might have longer lifespans, allowing them to be studied in detail.

How did Seaborg and his team attempt to create new elements?

Seaborg and his team attempted to create new elements by adding protons to a nucleus, a process that eventually reached its limit due to the increasing instability of the created elements.

What is the role of neutrons in atomic structure as described in the script?

Neutrons play a crucial role in atomic structure by providing stability. They have no charge and thus do not contribute to the repulsive forces between protons. Instead, they help to 'glue' the nucleus together through the strong nuclear force.

What method did Ken Moody use to attempt to create element 114?

Ken Moody used atomic colliders to accelerate calcium ions into a plutonium target, aiming to fuse them and create element 114.

What was the outcome of Moody's experiment to create element 114?

Moody's team was able to achieve an atom with 114 protons but fell short of the necessary 184 neutrons to reach the 'island of stability' and create a doubly magic nucleus.