Seaborgium (Sg)

General Information

• Symbol: Sg
• Atomic Number: 106
• Atomic Weight: [271] u (most stable isotope)
• Element Category: Transition metal
• Group: 6
• Period: 7
• Block: d-block

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery
• Density: Estimated around 35 g/cm³
• Melting Point: Unknown
• Boiling Point: Unknown
• Phase at STP: Solid (predicted)
• Electron Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁴ 7s²
• Oxidation States: +6 (most common), +4 (less common)

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity: Seaborgium is expected to exhibit chemical properties similar to those of tungsten and molybdenum. It forms stable +6 oxidation state compounds.
• Compounds: Predicted to form compounds such as seaborgium(VI) oxide (SgO₃) and seaborgium(VI) chloride (SgCl₆).

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, seaborgium has no commercial applications.

Occurrence and Extraction

• Natural Occurrence: Seaborgium does not occur naturally. It is a synthetic element.
• Extraction: Produced artificially in particle accelerators by bombarding lighter elements, such as californium or berkelium, with heavy ions like oxygen or neon.

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Seaborgium has no stable isotopes.
• Radioactive Isotopes: Several radioactive isotopes, including Seaborgium-271 with a half-life of about 2.4 minutes, Seaborgium-269 with a half-life of about 2.1 minutes, and Seaborgium-265 with a half-life of about 14 seconds.

Safety and Handling

• Hazards: Seaborgium 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. Seaborgium 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 in Dubna, Russia, and independently by a team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, USA, in 1974.
• Name Origin: Named after the American chemist Glenn T. Seaborg, who was instrumental in the discovery of many transuranium elements.

Additional Facts

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

Summary

Seaborgium 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 1974, it is named after chemist Glenn T. Seaborg. Seaborgium 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 Seaborgium

1. What is the atomic number of Seaborgium?

   • 106

2. What is the symbol for Seaborgium?

   • Sg

3. What is the atomic weight of Seaborgium?

   • [271] u (most stable isotope)

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

   • Group 6

5. What period is Seaborgium in?

   • Period 7

6. What block does Seaborgium belong to?

   • d-block

7. What is the estimated density of Seaborgium?

   • Around 35 g/cm³

8. What is the melting point of Seaborgium?

   • Unknown

9. What is the boiling point of Seaborgium?

   • Unknown

10. What is the electron configuration of Seaborgium?

    • [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁴ 7s²

11. What are the common oxidation states of Seaborgium?

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

12. What is the appearance of Seaborgium?

    • Unknown; predicted to be metallic and silvery

13. Is Seaborgium reactive with air?

    • Predicted to be similar to tungsten and molybdenum, forming stable +6 oxidation state compounds.

14. Name a predicted compound of Seaborgium.

    • Seaborgium(VI) oxide (SgO₃)

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

16. How is Seaborgium used in particle accelerators?

    • Produced by bombarding lighter elements with heavy ions.

17. What role does Seaborgium play in commercial applications?

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

18. How is Seaborgium found in nature?

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

19. How is Seaborgium typically produced?

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

20. What is the most stable isotope of Seaborgium?

    • Seaborgium-271

21. What is the half-life of Seaborgium-271?

    • About 2.4 minutes

22. What safety hazard is associated with Seaborgium?

    • It is highly radioactive and poses significant health risks.

23. Who discovered Seaborgium?

    • Discovered by teams at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the USA.

24. Where does the name Seaborgium come from?

    • Named after chemist Glenn T. Seaborg.

25. What is the crystal structure of Seaborgium?

    • Unknown

26. Is Seaborgium paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

    • Unknown

27. What is the thermal conductivity of Seaborgium?

    • Unknown

28. What is the electrical resistivity of Seaborgium?

    • Unknown

29. What is the primary oxidation state of Seaborgium?

    • +6

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

    • No, it is a synthetic element.

31. What is the common name of Seaborgium(VI) chloride?

    • SgCl₆

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

    • To study the properties of superheavy elements.

33. How does Seaborgium benefit spectroscopic studies?

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

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

    • Unknown

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

    • Transition metals (Group 6)

36. What is the natural abundance of Seaborgium-271?

    • It is a synthetic isotope with no natural abundance.

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

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

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

    • Its position as a superheavy element.

39. How is Seaborgium used in radiation research?

    • As a source of alpha particles in experiments.

40. What precautions should be taken when handling Seaborgium?

    • Use specialized protective equipment and facilities to contain radioactivity.