Bohrium (Bh)

General Information

• Symbol: Bh
• Atomic Number: 107
• Atomic Weight: [270] u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Transition metal
• Group: 7
• Period: 7
• Block: d-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery
• Density: Estimated around 37.1 g/cm³
• Melting Point: Unknown
• Boiling Point: Unknown
• Phase at STP: Solid (predicted)
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²
• Oxidation States: +7 (most common), +5, +4, +3 (less common)

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Bohrium is expected to exhibit chemical properties similar to those of rhenium. It forms stable +7 oxidation state compounds.
• Compounds: Predicted to form compounds such as bohrium(VII) oxide (Bh₂O₇) and bohrium(VII) chloride (BhCl₇).

Uses and Applications

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

Occurrence and Extraction

• Natural Occurrence: Bohrium does not occur naturally. It is a synthetic element.
• Extraction: Produced artificially in particle accelerators by bombarding lighter elements, such as bismuth, with heavy ions like chromium.

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Bohrium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: Several radioactive isotopes, including Bohrium-270 with a half-life of about 1 minute, Bohrium-267 with a half-life of about 17 seconds, and Bohrium-274 with a half-life of about 61 seconds.

Safety and Handling

• Hazards: Bohrium 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. Bohrium is typically handled in very small amounts under controlled conditions in research laboratories.

History

• Discovery: Discovered by a team at the Institute for Heavy Ion Research (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1981.
• Name Origin: Named in honor of the Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory.

Additional Facts

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

Summary

Bohrium is a synthetic, highly radioactive transition metal with no commercial applications. It is primarily used in scientific research to study the properties of superheavy elements. Discovered in 1981, it is named after physicist Niels Bohr. Bohrium 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 Bohrium

1. What is the atomic number of Bohrium?

   • 107

2. What is the symbol for Bohrium?

   • Bh

3. What is the atomic weight of Bohrium?

   • [270] u (most stable isotope)

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

   • Group 7

5. What period is Bohrium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Bohrium belong to?

   • d-block

7. What is the estimated density of Bohrium?

   • Around 37.1 g/cm³

8. What is the melting point of Bohrium?

   • Unknown

9. What is the boiling point of Bohrium?

   • Unknown

10. What is the electron configuration of Bohrium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²

11. What are the common oxidation states of Bohrium?

    • +7 (most common), +5, +4, +3 (less common)

12. What is the appearance of Bohrium?

    • Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery

13. Is Bohrium reactive with air?

    • Predicted to be similar to rhenium, forming stable +7 oxidation state compounds.

14. Name a predicted compound of Bohrium.

    • Bohrium(VII) chloride (BhCl₇)

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

16. How is Bohrium used in particle accelerators?

    • Produced by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions.

17. What role does Bohrium play in commercial applications?

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

18. How is Bohrium found in nature?

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

19. How is Bohrium typically produced?

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

20. What is the most stable isotope of Bohrium?

    • Bohrium-270

21. What is the half-life of Bohrium-270?

    • About 1 minute

22. What safety hazard is associated with Bohrium?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

23. Who discovered Bohrium?

    • Discovered by a team at the Institute for Heavy Ion Research (GSI) in Germany.

24. Where does the name Bohrium come from?

    • Named in honor of physicist Niels Bohr.

25. What is the crystal structure of Bohrium?

    • Unknown

26. Is Bohrium paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

    • Unknown

27. What is the thermal conductivity of Bohrium?

    • Unknown

28. What is the electrical resistivity of Bohrium?

    • Unknown

29. What is the primary oxidation state of Bohrium?

    • +7

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

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

31. What is the common name of Bohrium(VII) oxide?

    • Bh₂O₇

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

33. How does Bohrium benefit spectroscopic studies?

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

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

    • Unknown

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

    • Transition metals (Group 7)

36. What is the natural abundance of Bohrium-270?

    • It is a synthetic isotope with no natural abundance.

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

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

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

    • Its position as a superheavy element.

39. How is Bohrium used in radiation research?

    • As a source of alpha particles in experiments.

40. What precautions should be taken when handling Bohrium?

    • Use specialized protective equipment and facilities to contain radioactivity.