Rutherfordium Explained in 11 Minutes or Less

Summary

This video explores element 104, Rutherfordium, an artificial and short-lived metal with a half-life of 65 seconds. Named after Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear physics, it was first created in the 1960s through bombarding Californium with Carbon. The element's discovery was a subject of controversy, with both Russian and American scientists claiming credit. Rutherfordium, with the symbol RF, has no known uses outside of research and is a testament to human curiosity in understanding the atomic structure.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Rutherfordium (Element 104) is an artificial element with a half-life of only 65 seconds, making it extremely short-lived.
• 🌟 It is one of two elements named in honor of Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand chemist known for his experiments that helped explain the structure of the atom.
• 💥 Rutherfordium is created by bombarding californium atoms with carbon atoms, a process that has only produced a few atoms of it.
• 📅 First created in the 1960s, rutherfordium was not formally named until 1966 due to controversy over the initial results.
• 🏆 Ernest Rutherford is celebrated for his gold foil experiment and for being the father of nuclear physics, with his work recognized by a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908.
• 📚 The Marsden experiments conducted by Rutherford were pivotal in understanding atomic structure, revealing the dense nucleus at the atom's center.
• 🔋 Rutherfordium's atomic number is 104, and its symbol is RF. Its atomic weight is approximately 265.12, and it is classified as a metallic element.
• 🕊️ Rutherfordium does not occur naturally and has no known biological role; it is entirely synthetic and used only in research.
• ⏳ The discovery of rutherfordium was made in 1964 by Georgy Flerov and colleagues in Russia, and independently in 1969 by Albert Ghiorso and colleagues in the USA.
• 🏛️ The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) concluded that both Russian and American researchers were justified in their claims to the discovery of element 104.
• 📝 The naming of rutherfordium was a subject of dispute, with the Soviet Union initially proposing 'Kurchatovium' and the U.S. scientists suggesting 'Rutherfordium' after Ernest Rutherford.

Q & A

What is the atomic number of Rutherfordium?

Rutherfordium has an atomic number of 104.

What is the half-life of Rutherfordium?

Rutherfordium has a half-life of approximately 65 seconds.

How is Rutherfordium produced?

Rutherfordium is produced by bombarding Californium atoms with Carbon atoms.

Why is Rutherfordium named after Ernest Rutherford?

Rutherfordium is named in honor of Ernest Rutherford for his significant contributions to the understanding of atomic structure.

What experiment did Ernest Rutherford conduct that helped explain the structure of the atom?

Ernest Rutherford conducted the gold foil experiment, which led to the discovery of the atom's dense nucleus.

What is the symbol of Rutherfordium on the periodic table?

The symbol of Rutherfordium is RF.

What is the atomic weight of Rutherfordium?

The atomic weight of Rutherfordium is approximately 265.12.

What is the state of Rutherfordium at 25 degrees Celsius?

Rutherfordium is solid at 25 degrees Celsius.

Who was the first to propose the name 'Rutherfordium' and why?

U.S. scientists proposed the name 'Rutherfordium' to honor Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear physics.

What is the significance of Ernest Rutherford's discovery regarding the atomic nucleus?

Rutherford's discovery of the atomic nucleus led to the understanding that atoms have a dense center where most of their mass and positive charge is concentrated.

What was the controversy over the discovery of Rutherfordium?

There was a dispute over the priority of the discovery between Soviet and American scientists, which was later resolved by IUPAC naming the element Rutherfordium.

What are the known uses of Rutherfordium outside of research?

Rutherfordium currently has no known uses outside of research.

Who were the key researchers involved in the discovery of Rutherfordium?

Key researchers in the discovery of Rutherfordium include Georgy Flerov and Albert Ghiorso.

What is the relationship between the discovery of Rutherfordium and the element Nobelium?

The discovery of Rutherfordium involved the measurement of alpha particle emissions and the detection of decay products, which also contributed to the understanding of Nobelium.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Discovery and Significance of Rutherfordium

This paragraph introduces element 104, Rutherfordium, an artificial and short-lived element with a half-life of 65 seconds. It is named after Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand chemist known for his experiments that revealed the atomic nucleus. The element was first created in the 1960s but was not formally named until 1966 due to naming disputes. Rutherfordium is produced by bombarding Californium atoms with Carbon atoms, and it has no known natural occurrence or uses outside of research. The paragraph also discusses Rutherford's gold foil experiment and his contributions to understanding atomic structure, including the discovery of the nucleus and his Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

05:00

🏆 Ernest Rutherford's Legacy and Rutherfordium's Research History

This section delves into the accomplishments of Ernest Rutherford, who is considered the father of nuclear physics. It discusses his Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 and his discovery of alpha and beta rays, as well as his proposal of a law of radioactive decay. The paragraph also covers the history of Rutherfordium's discovery, detailing the work of Georgy Flerov and Albert Ghiorso, who independently confirmed the existence of the element in 1964 and 1969, respectively. The naming controversy between the Soviet Union's proposed name 'Kurchatovium' and the U.S. scientists' proposed 'Rutherfordium' is mentioned, with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) eventually ruling in favor of 'Rutherfordium'. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of the experimental methods used by both Soviet and American researchers to produce and identify isotopes of Rutherfordium.

10:03

📚 Conclusion on Rutherfordium and Future Element Exploration

The final paragraph wraps up the discussion on Rutherfordium, emphasizing its current use solely in research and its lack of biological role. It mentions the creation of Rutherfordium by bombarding Californium-249 with Carbon-12 nuclei and the longer half-life of the isotope produced by the Berkeley team, which allowed for more extensive testing. The paragraph also invites viewers to like, comment, and subscribe for future videos on elements, hinting at a series that explores the periodic table. It concludes with a thank you note to the viewers, encouraging them to watch previous videos on elements for more information.

Keywords

💡Rutherfordium

Rutherfordium is the subject of the video, being element number 104 on the periodic table. It is an artificial element, meaning it does not naturally occur and is created in laboratories. The video discusses its discovery, naming, and properties, highlighting its significance in the field of nuclear physics. For example, the script mentions that 'rutherfordium is made by bombarding californium atoms with carbon atoms' and was 'first created in the 1960s'.

💡Half-Life

Half-life is a term used to describe the time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to decay. In the context of the video, rutherfordium has a short half-life of '65 seconds,' indicating its instability and the rapid rate at which it breaks down. This concept is central to understanding the element's behavior and its applications in research.

💡Periodic Table

The periodic table is a chart that organizes all known chemical elements based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. The video script places rutherfordium within this framework, noting its position as 'element 104.' It serves as a reference point for discussing the element's classification and properties.

💡Ernest Rutherford

Ernest Rutherford is a key figure in the video, being the namesake of rutherfordium. He was a New Zealand chemist and physicist who conducted groundbreaking experiments that led to the understanding of the atomic nucleus. The video script mentions his 'gold foil experiment' and his status as 'the father of nuclear physics,' emphasizing his contributions to the field.

💡Nuclear Physics

Nuclear physics is the field of study concerned with the nucleus of atoms and the particles within it. The video script frequently references this field, particularly in the context of Ernest Rutherford's work and the creation of rutherfordium. It is the scientific backdrop against which the element's discovery and properties are discussed.

💡Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. The video script discusses the isotopes of rutherfordium, such as 'isotope 257' and 'isotope 259,' which have different half-lives and were produced through various bombardment processes.

💡Bombardment

In the context of the video, bombardment refers to the process of accelerating particles to high energies and directing them at a target to induce nuclear reactions. The script describes how rutherfordium is made by 'bombarding californium atoms with carbon atoms,' which is a method used to create new isotopes.

💡Element Discovery

The discovery of an element refers to the first isolation or synthesis of that element in the laboratory. The video script details the discovery of rutherfordium, mentioning that it was 'discovered in 1964 by Georgie Florov and colleagues' and also by 'Albert Ghiorso and colleagues,' highlighting the collaborative and competitive nature of scientific discovery.

💡IUPAC

IUPAC, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, is the authority that oversees the naming and classification of chemical elements. The video script discusses how IUPAC 'concluded that both the Russian and American researchers had been justified in making their claims' and decided on the name 'rutherfordium' for element 104.

💡Alpha Particles

Alpha particles are helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons. They are significant in the video as they were used by Rutherford in his gold foil experiment, which led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus. The script also mentions alpha particles in the context of radioactive decay of rutherfordium isotopes.

💡Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is the process by which a heavy nucleus splits into two lighter nuclei, releasing energy. The video script mentions Georgie Florov's contribution to the understanding of spontaneous fission, which is a type of nuclear fission that occurs without external bombardment.

Highlights

Rutherfordium, element 104, is named after Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand chemist known for his experiments explaining the structure of the atom.

Rutherfordium is an artificial element with a half-life of only 65 seconds and is not likely to exist naturally.

It was first created in the 1960s but was not formally named until 1966 due to controversy over the results.

Rutherfordium is produced by bombarding californium atoms with carbon atoms, with only a few atoms ever made.

Ernest Rutherford's gold foil experiment determined the dense nucleus of the atom.

Rutherford's Marsden experiments were pivotal in understanding atomic structure through alpha particle scattering.

Rutherfordium's symbol is RF, with an atomic number of 104 and an atomic weight of 265.12.

The color of rutherfordium is unknown, and it is solid at room temperature.

Rutherfordium is classified as a metallic element and is entirely synthetic, not occurring in nature.

Rutherfordium's half-life is so short that half of its atoms break up within an hour.

The naming of rutherfordium took nearly 30 years due to disagreements, finally honoring Ernest Rutherford.

Rutherfordium's density is 17 grams per centimeters cubed, with unknown melting and boiling points.

Ernest Rutherford furthered the idea of a positively charged atomic center causing alpha particles to bounce back.

Rutherford's experiments led to the understanding that atoms are mostly empty space with a dense, positively charged nucleus.

Rutherford's accomplishments include postulating the nuclear structure of the atom, discovering alpha and beta rays, and proposing a law of radioactive decay.

Rutherford received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 for his work on radioactivity.

Rutherfordium is created by bombarding californium-249 with carbon-12 nuclei and has no known biological role.

The discovery of rutherfordium was made in 1964 by Georgy Flerov and in 1969 by Albert Ghiorso.

A dispute over the discovery priority led to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) ruling in favor of both Russian and American researchers.

The Soviet Union initially proposed the name 'Kurchatovium' for element 104, while the U.S. scientists proposed 'Rutherfordium'.

Rutherfordium's long-lived isotope has a half-life of 1.3 hours and is used only in research.

Transcripts

hello everyone welcome back today we're

going to talk about element 104

rutherfordium in case you're wondering

where we are on the periodic table here

we are on the periodic table

rutherfordium Half-Life 65 seconds is

one of two elements in a row named after

an Earnest Rutherford in this case sorry

there isn't much more to say about it

except that none is likely to exist

right now rutherfordium element 104 an

artificial element rutherfordium is made

by bombarding californium atoms with

carbon atoms and only a few atoms of it

have ever been produced it was first

created in the 1960s but due to

controversy over the results it wasn't

formally named until 1966. naming

rutherfordium element number 104 is

named in honor of the New Zealand

chemist Ernest Rutherford he was one of

the first scientists to conduct

experiments that helped explain the

structure of the atom his gold foiled

experiment determined that the atom had

a dense nucleus here we have a care

creature of Ernst Rutherford the geiger

Marsden experiments were a landmark

series of experiments by which

scientists learned that every atom had a

nucleus where all of its positive charge

and most of its mass is concentrated

they deduced this after measuring how an

alpha particle beam is scattered when it

strikes a thin metal foil its start date

was in 1908. its occasion was at the

University of Manchester Institute of

Science and Technology element 104

rutherfordium the super Heavies its

symbol is RF its atomic number is 104

its atomic weight is

265.12 its color is unknown its standard

state is solid at 25 degrees Celsius or

77 degrees Fahrenheit its classification

is metallic Omniverse of the mayfly

super Heavies entirely synthetic we

never occur in nature and don't hang

around for long half of my atoms will

have broken up within an hour I may be

quick but it took people nearly 30 years

to give me a name after arguing about it

they settled on earnest Rutherford the

New Zealand father of nuclear physics

whether ferdium state of Discovery was

in 1969. its density is 17 grams per

centimeters cubed its melting point and

boiling point are both unknown and again

its chemical symbol is RF element 104

rutherfordium it had a proposed name and

then it had a confirmed name and it's a

short-lived isotope proposed name Soviet

Union scientist proposed cricketovium as

the name for this element after Igor

kuchitov U.S scientists proposed the

name rutherfordium after Ernest

Rutherford the father of nuclear physics

short-lived rutherfordium's long-lived

isotope has a half-life of 1.3 hours it

has no uses outside research

Ernest Rutherford

Ernest Rutherford a British physicist

took Thompson's idea a step further by

using radioactive particles he shot

positively charged alpha particles

particles made up of two protons and two

neutrons or a helium nuclear through a

piece of gold foil he know what is that

some of the alpha particles went

straight through the foil but others

bounced back what would cause the alpha

particles to bounce back Rutherford

theorized that atoms are made of mostly

empty space which is why most particles

went straight through the gold foil

atoms have a positively charged Center

which caused the positively charged

particles to bounce back his second idea

came from the theory that because like

repels-like meaning positive charges

repel positive charges the positively

charged alpha particles were most likely

hitting the center of the atom which was

also positively charged he named the

center of the atom the nucleus nucleus

positively charged Central core of an

atom contains nearly all of its mass

here we have a map of 1969 the date of

rutherfordium's discovery previously I

made a video on Atrium the next video

will be on lutetium stay tuned

rutherfordium rutherfordium is one of

two elements named after an Earnest

Rutherford in this case he first

discovered that elements had nuclei

which is important rutherfordium element

104 RF the artificial element

rutherfordium was named after New

Zealand chemist Baron Ernest Rutherford

who studied and explained the structure

of an atom this element can be made by

Smashing together atoms of neon and

plutonium its atomic mass is 267 its

state is a solid and its Discovery was

in 1964 by a team led by Georgie florov

and in 1969 by a team led by Albert

giorso here we have a photo of Ernest

Rutherford Ernest Rutherford first Baron

Rutherford of Nelson omfrs Han frse was

a New Zealand physicist who came to be

known as the father of nuclear physics

Encyclopedia Britannica considers him to

be the greatest experimentalist since

Michael Faraday according to Wikipedia

so what are three accomplishments of

Ernest Rutherford Ernest Rutherford

postulated the nuclear structure of the

atom he discovered Alpha and beta race

and proposed a law of radioactive active

Decay he received the Nobel Prize in

chemistry in 1908. who gave radioactive

decala one chemical element Rutherford

and Saudi explained was transformed into

another by emitting charged particles

alpha or beta particles an alpha

particle again is a helium nuclei and a

beta particle is an electron around that

time Rutherford already knew that

radioactivity manifested itself in the

form of alpha Rays or beta rays which

proved to consist of particles according

to link.springer.com let's continue with

element 104 rutherfordium at present

rutherfordium is only used in research

rutherfordium has no known biological

role it is created by bombarding

californium-249 with carbon-12 nuclei

rutherfordium's Discovery was in 1964 by

Georgie florov and colleagues and at

dubna near Moscow Russia and

independently by Albert giorso and

colleagues at Berkeley California USA

rutherfordium is named in honor of New

Zealand chemist Ernest Rutherford one of

the first to explain the structure of

atoms its classification is a metal

Georgie florov was a Soviet physicist

who is known for his discovery of

spontaneous fission and his important

contribution towards the crystallography

and Material Science for which he was

honored with many awards according to

Wikipedia Albert giorsa was an American

nuclear scientist and co-discover of a

record 12 chemical elements on the

periodic table his research career

expanded six decades from the early

1940s to the late 1990s according to

Wikipedia in 1964 a team led by Georgie

florov at the Russian Joint Institute

for nuclear research jinr in dubna

bombarded plutonium with neon and

produced element 104 isotope 259 they

confirmed their findings in 1966. in

1969 a team led by Albert kiorso at the

Californian Lawrence Berkeley laboratory

lbl made three successful attempts to

produce element 104 by bombarding curium

with ox oxygen to get isotope 260

californium with carbon to get isotope

257 and californium with carbon to get

isotope-258 a dispute over priority of

Discovery followed and eventually in

1992 the international Union of pure and

applied chemistry IUPAC concluded that

both the Russian and American

researchers had been justified in making

their claims IUPAC decided element 104

would be called rutherfordie Soviet

scientist at the Joint Institute for

nuclear research at Dublin Russia USSR

announced in 1964 the discovery of

element 104 which they named

kirchutovium symbol KU for Igor

kirchitov a Soviet nuclear physicist

senior in 1969 a group of American

researchers at the Lawrence radiation

laboratory of the University of

California at Berkeley announced that

they had identified isotopes of the

element different from the ones

identified by the Soviets the Americans

then proposed the name rutherfordium in

honor of the British physicist

Ernest Rutherford in their experiment

the Soviets bombarded plutonium-242 with

ions of neon 22 claiming to have

obtained an isotope of element 104 that

had a mass number of 260 and a half-life

of 0.3 seconds the Soviets then

performed a series of chemical

experiments with the isotope to

demonstrate that it behaved in a manner

that had been predicted for the element

when the workers at dubna later used a

more refined measuring technique however

they found that the half-life of the

isotope was 0.1 second not 0.3 second as

originally reported darn this finding

cast out on the chemical experiments

with the element because the results of

those experiments could have not been

obtained with the atoms having a

half-life of 0.1 seconds longer

half-lives mean longer experimentation

times the American investigators did not

follow the same procedure as a dubna

group because the American Equipment

could not accelerate neon 22 ions to the

necessary energies they use neon and

plutonium but they used other elements

because they could not accelerate the

neon 22 to the necessary energies as

stated instead they bombarded a target

of californium-249 with ions of carbon

12 and carbon 13. although unable to

obtain the same Isotopes as the Soviet

scientists the Berkeley team did report

positive identification of two possibly

three Isotopes on element 1 104 the

bombardment of californium-249 with

carbon 12 produced an isotope with a

mass number of 257 and a half-life of 4

to 5 Seconds seen here the carbon 13

bombardment produced an isotope with a

mass number of 259 and a half-life of 3

to 4 seconds the investigators at

Berkeley subsequently by bombarding

curium-248 with oxygen 18 synthesized in

isotope of element 104 that has a mass

number of 261 and get this a half-life

of 70 seconds correction right there I

put 60 but it's actually 70 seconds

which is even better that's more time to

test it although the Soviets could only

make a few atoms of their Mass 260

isotope the Berkeley group obtained

thousands of the atoms having Mass

numbers of 257 and 259 moreover because

the latter Isotopes have longer

half-lives the Berkeley team was able to

measure the energies of their emissions

alpha particles and to detect their

Decay products nobelium isotope thereby

providing more extensive evidence of

their Discovery the international Union

of pure and applied chemistry eventually

ruled that element 104 be named

rutherfordy so I was element 104

explained in X minutes or less and has a

short amount of time as possible once

again if you like this video make sure

to like comment subscribe stay tuned for

future videos feel free to watch the

previous videos on the elements once

again thank you everyone for watching

have a great one