The island of stability
ration. The addition of neutrons increases the nuclear force to the point where the nuclear force is greater than the repulsion allowing the nucleus to remain stable. 7 This is due to the interaction of protons and neutrons being attracted to one other through the residual strong force. This short distance force forms through the fundamental strong force caused by the combination of quarks to form protons and neutrons. 8 However, even if the nucleus can maintain shape without being blown apart, there are still several problems with generating the more stable isotopes of superheavy elements. While trace amounts of Neptunium (atomic number 93) are found in Uranium (atomic number 92), it is believed that Uranium is the last naturally occurring element and all elements beyond Uranium are synthetic or man-made elements. Plutonium (atomic number 94) was first synthesized in 1941 by Glenn Seaborg, by firing deuteron (the nucleus of deuterium) at Uranium. 9 Most recently, Oganesson (atomic number 118) was synthesized in 2006 by bombarding Californium-249 (atomic number 98) with calcium-48 nuclei. 10 Through these past examples it is clear that currently chemical synthesis is obtained by effectively fusing a large element with the nuclei of a smaller element. Whilst it is currently the most effective method, this method has a number of issues, such as rate of production. The act of fusing is very slow and imperfect, as nuclei have to be accelerated at very high speeds in order to overcome the nuclear repulsion forces from the protons, whilst also not colliding with such a force that they destroy one another. Generally, this speed is around 1/10th the speed of light. Problems further arise as the relatively tiny nuclei that are surrounded by empty space are fired at each other with the hope that they collide, despite tiny probability, and stick. Thus, a tedious process ensues of making sure that not only will there be a collision, but that collision is regulated at the correct speed. Furthermore, availability and instability of building isotopes poses a large problem. One potential inhabitant of the island of stability, Flerovium-298, could be achieved through fusion of calcium-51 and plutonium-247. However, both of these isotopes are unstable with calcium-51 having a half-life of 10.0 seconds, 11 and plutonium-247 having a half-life of 2.27 days. 12 This leads to the already slow and imperfect act of combining nuclei to have what is effectively a time limit, as the isotopes being used (which already had to be synthesized themselves) are decaying. With such issues in mind any potential product made will be very small and infrequent, meaning that the potential harness and use of these superheavy elements is currently unlikely. The clearest area where these problems are displayed was during the synthesis of Tennessine. During the preparation to begin attempts to create what was then known as Ununseptium, the synthesized Berkelium (element 97) had to be gathered over a 2-year 7 Julianna Poole- Sawyer ‘ Modern Alchemy: Creating Superheavy Elements’ Modern Alchemy: Creating Superheavy Elements – in Chemistry (acs.org) consulted 19/08/2022. 8 Author Name not Stated on Website ‘ Protons and Neutrons in a Nucleus’ Protons and Neutrons in a Nucleus (nuclear-power.com) consulted 20/08/2022. 9 Author Name not Stated on Website ‘ When and How Was Plutonium Discovered’ When and how was plutonium discovered? – TeachersCollegesj Consulted 20/08/2022. 10 Neel Solanki ‘ What is Oganesson’ Oganesson Uses & Facts | What is Element 118? | Study.com consulted 21/08/2022. 11 Steve Gagnon ‘ Isotopes of The Element Clacium’ It's Elemental - The Element Calcium (jlab.org) consulted 21/08/2022. 12 Steve Gagnon ‘ Isotopes of The Element Plutonium’ It's Elemental - The Element Plutonium (jlab.org) consulted 21/08/2022.
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