Nobelium (No)

General Information

• Symbol: No
• Atomic Number: 102
• Atomic Weight: 259 u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Actinide
• Group: N/A (Actinides series)
• Period: 7
• Block: f-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Silvery metallic (predicted)
• Density: Unknown (estimated to be around 9.9 g/cm³)
• Melting Point: 827 °C (1521 °F)
• Boiling Point: Unknown
• Phase at STP: Solid
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 7s²
• Oxidation States: +2 (most stable), +3

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Nobelium is highly radioactive and reactive, especially in its +2 oxidation state. It reacts with oxygen, steam, and acids.
• Compounds: Forms compounds such as nobelium(II) chloride (NoCl₂) and nobelium(III) oxide (No₂O₃).

Uses and Applications

• Scientific Research: Used primarily for research purposes to understand the properties of heavy actinides and transactinides.
• Isotope Production: Used in the production of other transuranium elements and transactinides.

Occurrence and Extraction

• Natural Occurrence: Nobelium does not occur naturally and is a synthetic element.
• Production: Produced in minute quantities in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators by bombarding lighter actinides such as curium with carbon nuclei.

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Nobelium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: The most significant isotopes are Nobelium-259 (half-life of 58 minutes), Nobelium-255 (half-life of 3.1 minutes), and Nobelium-253 (half-life of 1.62 minutes).

Safety and Handling

• Hazards: Nobelium is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks. It can cause radiation poisoning and cancer if inhaled or ingested.
• Precautions: Handle with extreme care, using appropriate protective equipment and working in controlled environments. Proper disposal of radioactive materials is crucial.

History

• Discovery: Discovered by a team of scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and later confirmed by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1958.
• Name Origin: Named after Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prize.

Additional Facts

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

Summary

Nobelium is a synthetic, highly radioactive element used primarily for research purposes. Discovered in 1958, it is produced in extremely small quantities in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. Nobelium requires careful handling due to its high radioactivity.

40 Question and Answer Pairs About Nobelium

1. What is the atomic number of Nobelium?

   • 102

2. What is the symbol for Nobelium?

   • No

3. What is the atomic weight of Nobelium’s most stable isotope?

   • 259 u

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

   • Actinides series (no specific group)

5. What period is Nobelium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Nobelium belong to?

   • f-block

7. What is the estimated density of Nobelium?

   • Around 9.9 g/cm³

8. What is the melting point of Nobelium?

   • 827 °C (1521 °F)

9. What is the boiling point of Nobelium?

   • Unknown

10. What is the electron configuration of Nobelium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 7s²

11. What are the common oxidation states of Nobelium?

    • +2 (most stable), +3

12. What is the predicted appearance of Nobelium?

    • Silvery metallic

13. Is Nobelium reactive with air?

    • Yes, it is reactive and forms compounds with oxygen and other elements.

14. Name a common compound of Nobelium.

    • Nobelium(II) chloride (NoCl₂)

15. What is a common use of Nobelium in research?

    • To study the properties of heavy actinides and transactinides.

16. How is Nobelium used in isotope production?

    • Used to produce other transuranium elements and transactinides.

17. How is Nobelium typically produced?

    • By bombarding lighter actinides such as curium with carbon nuclei in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators.

18. What is the most common isotope of Nobelium used in research?

    • Nobelium-259

19. How is Nobelium extracted?

    • Produced synthetically in minute quantities in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators.

20. What safety hazard is associated with Nobelium dust?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

21. Who discovered Nobelium?

    • A team of scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, confirmed by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

22. Where does the name Nobelium come from?

    • Named after Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prize.

23. What is the crystal structure of Nobelium at room temperature?

    • Unknown

24. Is Nobelium paramagnetic or diamagnetic at room temperature?

    • Unknown

25. What is the thermal conductivity of Nobelium?

    • Unknown

26. What is the electrical resistivity of Nobelium?

    • Unknown

27. What is the primary oxidation state of Nobelium in its compounds?

    • +2

28. Is Nobelium found as a free element in nature?

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

29. What is the common name of Nobelium(II) chloride?

    • NoCl₂

30. What is a major application of Nobelium in scientific research?

    • Studying the properties of heavy actinides and transactinides.

31. How does Nobelium benefit isotope production?

    • Used to produce other transuranium elements.

32. What is the melting point of Nobelium in Kelvin?

    • 1100 K

33. What group does Nobelium belong to in the periodic table?

    • Actinides series

34. What is the natural abundance of Nobelium-259?

    • It is produced synthetically and is not found naturally.

35. Can Nobelium be used in high-temperature applications?

    • Yes, but its primary use is in research.

36. What is the key property that makes Nobelium valuable in research?

    • Its radioactive properties and role in studying heavy actinides.

37. How is Nobelium used in the chemical industry?

    • Mainly in research and specialized applications.

38. What precautions should be taken when handling Nobelium?

    • Use appropriate protective equipment to avoid inhalation or ingestion.

39. What are the health risks associated with Nobelium?

    • It can cause radiation poisoning and cancer if inhaled or ingested.

40. What are the common isotopes of Nobelium used in research?

    • Nobelium-259, Nobelium-255, and Nobelium-253.