metalresearcher - 27-8-2024 at 10:23
Martyn Poliakoff of Nottingham has a video on the possibility of creating Element 120. He says that element 119 (eka-potassium) is even more difficult
as it is an odd element and 120 even.
But he talks about 'island of stability' but IMHO that does not exist as no element above 100 can be synthesized with isotopes living long enoughto be
produced in weighable amounts to perform chemical experiments.
What are your thoughts ?
Sir_Gawain - 27-8-2024 at 11:32
The “island of stability” is elements only relatively stable. The way nucleons pack into a nucleus causes elements that contain certain “magic
numbers” of protons or neutrons to be much more stable. These numbers are 2,8,20,28,50,82,126. This might make elements around 126 *slightly* more
stable. For similar reasons, even-numbered elements are more stable than odd.
As mentioned in the video, the reason going beyond 118 is so difficult is because you can’t use calcium-48 anymore (the atomic number is too small).
bnull - 28-8-2024 at 05:49
In minute quantities (nanograms or less) for research purposes, yes; for practical purposes, no. It may be stable for a few minutes (probably 1 second
or less) and then undergo alpha decay.