Rutherfordium (Rf)

General Information

• Symbol: Rf
• Atomic Number: 104
• Atomic Weight: [267] u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Transition metal
• Group: 4
• Period: 7
• Block: d-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery
• Density: Estimated around 23-24 g/cm³
• Melting Point: Unknown; estimated around 2100-2400 K
• Boiling Point: Unknown; estimated around 5800 K
• Phase at STP: Solid (predicted)
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s²
• Oxidation States: +4 (most common), +3 (less common)

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Rutherfordium is expected to exhibit chemical properties similar to those of hafnium and zirconium. It forms stable +4 oxidation state compounds.
• Compounds: Predicted to form compounds such as rutherfordium(IV) chloride (RfCl₄) and rutherfordium(IV) oxide (RfO₂).

Uses and Applications

• Scientific Research: Primarily used in scientific research to study the properties of transactinide elements. Due to its short half-life and radioactivity, rutherfordium has no commercial applications.

Occurrence and Extraction

• Natural Occurrence: Rutherfordium does not occur naturally. It is a synthetic element.
• Extraction: Produced artificially in particle accelerators by bombarding lighter elements, such as californium or plutonium, with heavy ions like carbon or oxygen.

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Rutherfordium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: Several radioactive isotopes, including Rutherfordium-267 with a half-life of about 1.3 hours, Rutherfordium-261 with a half-life of about 65 seconds, and Rutherfordium-263 with a half-life of about 10 minutes.

Safety and Handling

• Hazards: Rutherfordium is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks due to its intense radioactivity. It requires specialized handling.
• Precautions: Handle with extreme caution using specialized protective equipment and facilities designed to contain radioactivity. Rutherfordium is typically handled in very small amounts under controlled conditions in research laboratories.

History

• Discovery: Discovered independently by a team at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, in 1966, and by a team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, USA, in 1969.
• Name Origin: Named after the physicist Ernest Rutherford, known for his pioneering work in nuclear physics.

Additional Facts

• Crystal Structure: Unknown
• Magnetic Properties: Unknown
• Thermal Conductivity: Unknown
• Electrical Resistivity: Unknown

Summary

Rutherfordium is a synthetic, highly radioactive transition metal with no commercial applications. It is primarily used in scientific research to study the properties of transactinide elements. Discovered in the 1960s, it is named after Ernest Rutherford. Rutherfordium does not occur naturally and is produced in particle accelerators by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions. Due to its radioactivity and short half-life, it requires specialized handling and is studied in controlled laboratory environments.

40 Question and Answer Pairs About Rutherfordium

1. What is the atomic number of Rutherfordium?

   • 104

2. What is the symbol for Rutherfordium?

   • Rf

3. What is the atomic weight of Rutherfordium?

   • [267] u (most stable isotope)

4. In which group of the periodic table is Rutherfordium found?

   • Group 4

5. What period is Rutherfordium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Rutherfordium belong to?

   • d-block

7. What is the estimated melting point of Rutherfordium?

   • Around 2100-2400 K

8. What is the estimated boiling point of Rutherfordium?

   • Around 5800 K

9. What is the estimated density of Rutherfordium?

   • Around 23-24 g/cm³

10. What is the electron configuration of Rutherfordium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s²

11. What are the common oxidation states of Rutherfordium?

    • +4 (most common), +3 (less common)

12. What is the appearance of Rutherfordium?

    • Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery

13. Is Rutherfordium reactive with air?

    • Predicted to be similar to hafnium and zirconium, forming stable +4 oxidation state compounds.

14. Name a predicted compound of Rutherfordium.

    • Rutherfordium(IV) chloride (RfCl₄)

15. What is a common use of Rutherfordium in scientific research?

    • To study the properties of transactinide elements.

16. How is Rutherfordium used in particle accelerators?

    • Produced by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions.

17. What role does Rutherfordium play in commercial applications?

    • It has no commercial applications due to its short half-life and radioactivity.

18. How is Rutherfordium found in nature?

    • It does not occur naturally; it is a synthetic element.

19. How is Rutherfordium typically produced?

    • By bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions in particle accelerators.

20. What is the most stable isotope of Rutherfordium?

    • Rutherfordium-267

21. What is the half-life of Rutherfordium-267?

    • About 1.3 hours

22. What safety hazard is associated with Rutherfordium?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

23. Who discovered Rutherfordium?

    • Discovered independently by a team at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia and a team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the USA.

24. Where does the name Rutherfordium come from?

    • Named after physicist Ernest Rutherford.

25. What is the crystal structure of Rutherfordium?

    • Unknown

26. Is Rutherfordium paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

    • Unknown

27. What is the thermal conductivity of Rutherfordium?

    • Unknown

28. What is the electrical resistivity of Rutherfordium?

    • Unknown

29. What is the primary oxidation state of Rutherfordium?

    • +4

30. Is Rutherfordium found as a free element in nature?

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

31. What is the common name of Rutherfordium(IV) oxide?

    • RfO₂

32. What is a major application of Rutherfordium in scientific research?

    • To study the properties of transactinide elements.

33. How does Rutherfordium benefit spectroscopic studies?

    • Its heavy atomic weight helps in studying atomic interactions and properties.

34. What is the boiling point of Rutherfordium in Kelvin?

    • Estimated around 5800 K

35. What group does Rutherfordium belong to in the periodic table?

    • Transition metals (Group 4)

36. What is the natural abundance of Rutherfordium-267?

    • It is a synthetic isotope with no natural abundance.

37. Can Rutherfordium be used in high-temperature applications?

    • No, due to its radioactivity and short half-life.

38. What is the key property that makes Rutherfordium valuable in scientific research?

    • Its position as a transactinide element.

39. How is Rutherfordium used in radiation research?

    • As a source of alpha particles in experiments.

40. What precautions should be taken when handling Rutherfordium?

    • Use specialized protective equipment and facilities to contain radioactivity.