Moscovium (Mc)

General Information

• Symbol: Mc
• Atomic Number: 115
• Atomic Weight: [290] u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Post-transition metal
• Group: 15
• Period: 7
• Block: p-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Unknown; predicted to be metallic and possibly silvery or gray
• Density: Estimated around 13.5 g/cm³
• Melting Point: Unknown; predicted around 400°C (752°F)
• Boiling Point: Unknown; predicted around 1100°C (2012°F)
• Phase at STP: Solid (predicted)
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p³
• Oxidation States: +3, +1 (predicted)

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Moscovium is expected to exhibit chemical properties similar to those of bismuth and antimony. It is predicted to form stable +3 and +1 oxidation state compounds.
• Compounds: Potential compounds include moscovium(III) oxide (Mc₂O₃) and moscovium(III) fluoride (McF₃).

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, moscovium has no commercial applications.

Occurrence and Extraction

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

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Moscovium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: Several radioactive isotopes, including Moscovium-290 with a half-life of about 0.65 seconds, Moscovium-289 with a half-life of about 0.22 seconds, and Moscovium-288 with a half-life of about 0.16 seconds.

Safety and Handling

• Hazards: Moscovium 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. Moscovium 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 2003.
• Name Origin: Named after Moscow Oblast, the region in Russia where the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is located.

Additional Facts

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

Summary

Moscovium 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 2003 by a team in Russia, it is named after the Moscow region. Moscovium 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 Moscovium

1. What is the atomic number of Moscovium?

   • 115

2. What is the symbol for Moscovium?

   • Mc

3. What is the atomic weight of Moscovium?

   • [290] u (most stable isotope)

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

   • Group 15

5. What period is Moscovium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Moscovium belong to?

   • p-block

7. What is the estimated density of Moscovium?

   • Around 13.5 g/cm³

8. What is the melting point of Moscovium?

   • Predicted to be around 400°C (752°F)

9. What is the boiling point of Moscovium?

   • Predicted to be around 1100°C (2012°F)

10. What is the electron configuration of Moscovium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p³

11. What are the common oxidation states of Moscovium?

    • +3, +1 (predicted)

12. What is the appearance of Moscovium?

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

13. Is Moscovium reactive with air?

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

14. Name a predicted compound of Moscovium.

    • Moscovium(III) fluoride (McF₃)

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

16. How is Moscovium used in particle accelerators?

    • Produced by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions.

17. What role does Moscovium play in commercial applications?

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

18. How is Moscovium found in nature?

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

19. How is Moscovium typically produced?

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

20. What is the most stable isotope of Moscovium?

    • Moscovium-290

21. What is the half-life of Moscovium-290?

    • About 0.65 seconds

22. What safety hazard is associated with Moscovium?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

23. Who discovered Moscovium?

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

24. Where does the name Moscovium come from?

    • Named after Moscow Oblast, the region in Russia where it was discovered.

25. What is the crystal structure of Moscovium?

    • Unknown

26. Is Moscovium paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

    • Unknown

27. What is the thermal conductivity of Moscovium?

    • Unknown

28. What is the electrical resistivity of Moscovium?

    • Unknown

29. What is the primary oxidation state of Moscovium?

    • +3 (predicted)

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

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

31. What is the common name of Moscovium(III) oxide?

    • Mc₂O₃

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

33. How does Moscovium benefit spectroscopic studies?

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

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

    • Predicted around 1373 K

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

    • Post-transition metals (Group 15)

36. What is the natural abundance of Moscovium-290?

    • It is a synthetic isotope with no natural abundance.

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

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

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

    • Its position as a superheavy element.

39. How is Moscovium used in radiation research?

    • As a source of alpha particles in experiments.

40. What precautions should be taken when handling Moscovium?

    • Use specialized protective equipment and facilities to contain radioactivity.