Flerovium (Fl)

General Information

• Symbol: Fl
• Atomic Number: 114
• Atomic Weight: [289] u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Post-transition metal
• Group: 14
• Period: 7
• Block: p-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Unknown; predicted to be metallic and possibly silvery or gray
• Density: Estimated around 14 g/cm³
• Melting Point: Unknown; predicted around 70°C (160°F)
• Boiling Point: Unknown; predicted around 150°C (302°F)
• Phase at STP: Solid (predicted)
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p²
• Oxidation States: +2, +4 (predicted)

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Flerovium is expected to exhibit chemical properties similar to those of lead and tin. It is predicted to form stable +2 and +4 oxidation state compounds.
• Compounds: Potential compounds include flerovium(II) oxide (FlO) and flerovium(IV) fluoride (FlF₄).

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, flerovium has no commercial applications.

Occurrence and Extraction

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

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Flerovium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: Several radioactive isotopes, including Flerovium-289 with a half-life of about 2.6 seconds, Flerovium-288 with a half-life of about 0.8 seconds, and Flerovium-287 with a half-life of about 0.5 seconds.

Safety and Handling

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

History

• Discovery: Discovered by a team at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, in 1998.
• Name Origin: Named after the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, itself named after the Russian physicist Georgy Flyorov.

Additional Facts

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

Summary

Flerovium 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 1998, it is named after the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions. Flerovium 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 Flerovium

1. What is the atomic number of Flerovium?

   • 114

2. What is the symbol for Flerovium?

   • Fl

3. What is the atomic weight of Flerovium?

   • [289] u (most stable isotope)

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

   • Group 14

5. What period is Flerovium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Flerovium belong to?

   • p-block

7. What is the estimated density of Flerovium?

   • Around 14 g/cm³

8. What is the melting point of Flerovium?

   • Predicted to be around 70°C (160°F)

9. What is the boiling point of Flerovium?

   • Predicted to be around 150°C (302°F)

10. What is the electron configuration of Flerovium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p²

11. What are the common oxidation states of Flerovium?

    • +2, +4 (predicted)

12. What is the appearance of Flerovium?

    • Unknown; predicted to be metallic and possibly silvery or gray

13. Is Flerovium reactive with air?

    • Predicted to be similar to lead, forming stable +2 and +4 oxidation state compounds.

14. Name a predicted compound of Flerovium.

    • Flerovium(II) oxide (FlO)

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

16. How is Flerovium used in particle accelerators?

    • Produced by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions.

17. What role does Flerovium play in commercial applications?

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

18. How is Flerovium found in nature?

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

19. How is Flerovium typically produced?

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

20. What is the most stable isotope of Flerovium?

    • Flerovium-289

21. What is the half-life of Flerovium-289?

    • About 2.6 seconds

22. What safety hazard is associated with Flerovium?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

23. Who discovered Flerovium?

    • Discovered by a team at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia.

24. Where does the name Flerovium come from?

    • Named after the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, named after physicist Georgy Flyorov.

25. What is the crystal structure of Flerovium?

    • Unknown

26. Is Flerovium paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

    • Unknown

27. What is the thermal conductivity of Flerovium?

    • Unknown

28. What is the electrical resistivity of Flerovium?

    • Unknown

29. What is the primary oxidation state of Flerovium?

    • +4 (predicted)

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

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

31. What is the common name of Flerovium(IV) fluoride?

    • FlF₄

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

33. How does Flerovium benefit spectroscopic studies?

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

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

    • Predicted around 423 K

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

    • Post-transition metals (Group 14)

36. What is the natural abundance of Flerovium-289?

    • It is a synthetic isotope with no natural abundance.

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

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

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

    • Its position as a superheavy element.

39. How is Flerovium used in radiation research?

    • As a source of alpha particles in experiments.

40. What precautions should be taken when handling Flerovium?

    • Use specialized protective equipment and facilities to contain radioactivity.