Hassium (Hs)

General Information

• Symbol: Hs
• Atomic Number: 108
• Atomic Weight: [277] u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Transition metal
• Group: 8
• Period: 7
• Block: d-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery
• Density: Estimated around 40.7 g/cm³
• Melting Point: Unknown
• Boiling Point: Unknown
• Phase at STP: Solid (predicted)
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁶ 7s²
• Oxidation States: +8 (most common), +6, +4, +3 (less common)

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Hassium is expected to exhibit chemical properties similar to those of osmium and ruthenium. It forms stable +8 oxidation state compounds.
• Compounds: Predicted to form compounds such as hassium tetroxide (HsO₄), similar to osmium tetroxide (OsO₄).

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, hassium has no commercial applications.

Occurrence and Extraction

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

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Hassium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: Several radioactive isotopes, including Hassium-277 with a half-life of about 11 minutes, Hassium-270 with a half-life of about 10 seconds, and Hassium-269 with a half-life of about 16 seconds.

Safety and Handling

• Hazards: Hassium 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. Hassium 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 1984.
• Name Origin: Named after the German state of Hesse, where the Institute for Heavy Ion Research is located.

Additional Facts

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

Summary

Hassium 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 1984, it is named after the German state of Hesse. Hassium 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 Hassium

1. What is the atomic number of Hassium?

   • 108

2. What is the symbol for Hassium?

   • Hs

3. What is the atomic weight of Hassium?

   • [277] u (most stable isotope)

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

   • Group 8

5. What period is Hassium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Hassium belong to?

   • d-block

7. What is the estimated density of Hassium?

   • Around 40.7 g/cm³

8. What is the melting point of Hassium?

   • Unknown

9. What is the boiling point of Hassium?

   • Unknown

10. What is the electron configuration of Hassium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁶ 7s²

11. What are the common oxidation states of Hassium?

    • +8 (most common), +6, +4, +3 (less common)

12. What is the appearance of Hassium?

    • Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery

13. Is Hassium reactive with air?

    • Predicted to be similar to osmium, forming stable +8 oxidation state compounds.

14. Name a predicted compound of Hassium.

    • Hassium tetroxide (HsO₄)

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

16. How is Hassium used in particle accelerators?

    • Produced by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions.

17. What role does Hassium play in commercial applications?

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

18. How is Hassium found in nature?

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

19. How is Hassium typically produced?

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

20. What is the most stable isotope of Hassium?

    • Hassium-277

21. What is the half-life of Hassium-277?

    • About 11 minutes

22. What safety hazard is associated with Hassium?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

23. Who discovered Hassium?

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

24. Where does the name Hassium come from?

    • Named after the German state of Hesse.

25. What is the crystal structure of Hassium?

    • Unknown

26. Is Hassium paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

    • Unknown

27. What is the thermal conductivity of Hassium?

    • Unknown

28. What is the electrical resistivity of Hassium?

    • Unknown

29. What is the primary oxidation state of Hassium?

    • +8

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

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

31. What is the common name of Hassium tetroxide?

    • HsO₄

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

33. How does Hassium benefit spectroscopic studies?

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

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

    • Unknown

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

    • Transition metals (Group 8)

36. What is the natural abundance of Hassium-277?

    • It is a synthetic isotope with no natural abundance.

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

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

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

    • Its position as a superheavy element.

39. How is Hassium used in radiation research?

    • As a source of alpha particles in experiments.

40. What precautions should be taken when handling Hassium?

    • Use specialized protective equipment and facilities to contain radioactivity.