Nihonium (Nh)

General Information

• Symbol: Nh
• Atomic Number: 113
• Atomic Weight: [286] u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Post-transition metal
• Group: 13
• Period: 7
• Block: p-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery
• Density: Estimated around 16 g/cm³
• Melting Point: Unknown; predicted to be around 430°C (806°F)
• Boiling Point: Unknown; predicted to be around 1130°C (2066°F)
• Phase at STP: Solid (predicted)
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p¹
• Oxidation States: +3, +1 (predicted)

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Nihonium is expected to exhibit chemical properties similar to those of thallium and indium. It is predicted to form stable +1 and +3 oxidation state compounds.
• Compounds: Potential compounds include nihonium(I) chloride (NhCl) and nihonium(III) chloride (NhCl₃).

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, nihonium has no commercial applications.

Occurrence and Extraction

• Natural Occurrence: Nihonium 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 zinc.

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Nihonium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: Several radioactive isotopes, including Nihonium-286 with a half-life of about 20 seconds, Nihonium-285 with a half-life of about 5.5 seconds, and Nihonium-284 with a half-life of about 0.48 seconds.

Safety and Handling

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

History

• Discovery: Discovered by a team at the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science in Japan in 2004.
• Name Origin: Named after “Nihon,” which is one of the two ways to say “Japan” in Japanese, honoring the country where it was discovered.

Additional Facts

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

Summary

Nihonium is a synthetic, highly radioactive post-transition metal with no commercial applications. It is primarily used in scientific research to study the properties of superheavy elements. Discovered in 2004 by a team in Japan, it is named after the country of its discovery. Nihonium 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 Nihonium

1. What is the atomic number of Nihonium?

   • 113

2. What is the symbol for Nihonium?

   • Nh

3. What is the atomic weight of Nihonium?

   • [286] u (most stable isotope)

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

   • Group 13

5. What period is Nihonium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Nihonium belong to?

   • p-block

7. What is the estimated density of Nihonium?

   • Around 16 g/cm³

8. What is the melting point of Nihonium?

   • Predicted to be around 430°C (806°F)

9. What is the boiling point of Nihonium?

   • Predicted to be around 1130°C (2066°F)

10. What is the electron configuration of Nihonium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p¹

11. What are the common oxidation states of Nihonium?

    • +3, +1 (predicted)

12. What is the appearance of Nihonium?

    • Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery

13. Is Nihonium reactive with air?

    • Predicted to be similar to thallium, forming stable +1 and +3 oxidation state compounds.

14. Name a predicted compound of Nihonium.

    • Nihonium(I) chloride (NhCl)

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

16. How is Nihonium used in particle accelerators?

    • Produced by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions.

17. What role does Nihonium play in commercial applications?

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

18. How is Nihonium found in nature?

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

19. How is Nihonium typically produced?

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

20. What is the most stable isotope of Nihonium?

    • Nihonium-286

21. What is the half-life of Nihonium-286?

    • About 20 seconds

22. What safety hazard is associated with Nihonium?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

23. Who discovered Nihonium?

    • Discovered by a team at the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science in Japan.

24. Where does the name Nihonium come from?

    • Named after “Nihon,” one of the ways to say “Japan” in Japanese.

25. What is the crystal structure of Nihonium?

    • Unknown

26. Is Nihonium paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

    • Unknown

27. What is the thermal conductivity of Nihonium?

    • Unknown

28. What is the electrical resistivity of Nihonium?

    • Unknown

29. What is the primary oxidation state of Nihonium?

    • +3 (predicted)

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

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

31. What is the common name of Nihonium(I) chloride?

    • NhCl

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

33. How does Nihonium benefit spectroscopic studies?

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

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

    • Predicted around 1403 K

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

    • Post-transition metals (Group 13)

36. What is the natural abundance of Nihonium-286?

    • It is a synthetic isotope with no natural abundance.

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

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

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

    • Its position as a superheavy element.

39. How is Nihonium used in radiation research?

    • As a source of alpha particles in experiments.

40. What precautions should be taken when handling Nihonium?

    • Use specialized protective equipment and facilities to contain radioactivity.