Nihonium (Element 113): Discovery in Japan and the Island of Stability

Overview

This video explains the discovery of element 113, nihonium, at RIKEN in Tokyo and how scientists confirmed its synthesis over many years. It covers the fusion process, decay tracking, and the naming decision, highlighting the international collaboration behind this milestone.

Key insights

• Element 113 was produced by fusing a heavy bismuth target with zinc ions accelerated to high speeds, yielding a single atom after billions of zinc atoms were used.
• Detection relies on tracking a decay chain that reveals the identity of the produced element through known steps on the periodic table.
• NIHINIUM was chosen as the element name, a Latinized nod to Japan, with ongoing work to explore element 119 and the broader seventh and eighth rows of the periodic table.
• The discovery underscores international collaboration and the ongoing quest to test theories about nuclear stability at the extremes.

Introduction to Nihonium

Element 113, nihonium, is the first superheavy element definitely synthesized in Japan. The video explains why this discovery is a significant milestone, both for the country and for the global science community. The leader of the Japanese team, Professor Morita, and colleagues from other nations contributed to a rigorous verification process that has persisted for more than a decade.

How Nihonium Was Made

The synthesis involves colliding a heavy element with a light one. In this case, bismuth with atomic number 83 is used as the target, and zinc is accelerated to extremely high speeds. Nuclei fuse to form element 113. The process is extraordinarily selective and requires monitoring billions or trillions of zinc atoms to yield a single nihonium atom. The experiments began over 12 years ago and proceeded with meticulous confirmation at every step.

When nihonium atoms form, they travel to a detector where their radioactive decay is recorded. The decay chain passes through several known elements, allowing researchers to confirm the creation of nihonium even when only a handful of atoms are observed. This chain also helps scientists infer chemical behavior despite having access to only one or a few atoms at a time.

Naming and Significance

The press release from the lab announced that the name nihonium would be the official designation, a Latinized version of Nihon, the Japanese name for Japan. Beyond naming, the work has implications for understanding how protons and neutrons bind in very heavy nuclei. The experiments test theoretical predictions about stability at extreme proton-to-neutron ratios, which historically suggested rapid decay for heavy elements but now hint at longer lifetimes in some superheavy isotopes.

Chemistry of Nihonium

Element 113 resides in group 13, closely related to boron, and lies just below thallium in the periodic table. Its chemistry is expected to reflect three outer electrons, similar to lighter group 13 elements, though relativistic effects at such high atomic numbers could alter energy levels and electron configurations. Early chemistry experiments show that nihonium likely sticks to gold, a property used to study its interactions, even though practical chemistry is challenging with only a few atoms available. The discussion touches on the possibility of relativistic modifications to its chemistry and the unknowns about its toxicity due to radioactivity rather than chemical behavior alone.

International Collaboration and Future Prospects

The video emphasizes that the discovery was not confined to Japan; it was validated with experiments in Germany and Russia, illustrating strong international collaboration. Looking ahead, researchers plan to probe element 119 and the seventh and eighth rows of the periodic table, aiming to explore the island of stability where superheavy elements might exhibit enhanced stability compared to simple extrapolations from lighter elements. The channel promises more periodic videos as the field advances.