Scientists have developed a groundbreaking technique to create Superheavy elements by blasting highly energized ion beams at dense atoms. This innovative approach could pave the way for synthesizing the elusive “element 120,” a substance even heavier than anything currently known.
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Scientists Edge Closer to Creating a Superheavy Element That Could Reshape the Periodic Table
Creating a Superheavy Element That Could Reshape the Periodic Table
Scientists may be on the verge of creating a brand-new superheavy element, tentatively known as “element 120.” This element would be so massive that it would require an entirely new row on the periodic table—something never seen before. If successfully synthesized, its atoms could belong to a long-theorized “island of stability,” a region where superheavy elements might exist longer than expected, potentially reshaping our understanding of chemistry.
Currently, the periodic table holds 118 confirmed elements, ranging from hydrogen—the simplest element with just one proton—to oganesson, the heaviest known element, officially named in 2016. Oganesson boasts at least 294 subatomic particles crammed into its nucleus, making it incredibly unstable. But scientists believe that even heavier elements could theoretically exist, and they’ve already predicted some of their properties.
The challenge? These elements don’t form naturally on Earth. That means researchers must either find a way to synthesize them in a lab or search the universe for traces of their existence. Among the top candidates for discovery are elements 119 (ununennium) and 120 (unbinilium). These elements are so large that they wouldn’t fit within the existing seven rows of the periodic table—forcing the creation of an eighth row if they were successfully made.
Despite multiple attempts, neither element has been synthesized yet. However, with advances in particle accelerators and new experimental techniques, scientists are getting closer than ever. If element 120 is achieved, it could open the door to an entirely new frontier in chemistry and physics, revealing more about the fundamental building blocks of our universe.
Researchers created atoms of the superheavy element livermorium using a new technique in the Berkeley Lab's 88-Inch Cyclotron machine. They believe the same technique could be used to make unbinilium. (Image credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab)
Scientists have taken a major step forward in the quest to create new superheavy elements. In a groundbreaking study published on October 21 in Physical Review Letters, researchers successfully demonstrated a new method for synthesizing livermorium (element 116). By bombarding plutonium-244—an isotope of plutonium with extra neutrons—with vaporized titanium ions, they managed to produce this elusive element, proving that their approach works.
Now, they believe the same technique could be the key to creating an even heavier element: unbinilium (element 120). Instead of plutonium, they would target californium, a heavier element, with titanium ions in the hopes of generating the hypothetical superheavy atom. This breakthrough serves as a crucial proof of concept, giving scientists a promising path forward in their search for the next addition to the periodic table.
“This reaction had never been demonstrated before, and it was essential to prove it was possible before embarking on our attempt to make [element] 120,” said study lead author Jacklyn Gates, a nuclear scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in California. “Creation of a new element is an extremely rare feat. It’s exciting to be a part of the process and to have a promising path forward.”
However, success won’t come quickly. Even with the latest technology, the process is painstakingly slow. In this experiment, it took over 22 days to create just two atoms of livermorium inside Berkeley Lab’s 88-Inch Cyclotron machine, which was continuously firing titanium ions at plutonium. Producing unbinilium could take even longer.
“We think it will take about 10 times longer to make [element] 120 than [element] 116,” said study co-author Reiner Kruecken, a nuclear scientist at Berkeley Lab. “It’s not easy, but it seems feasible now.”
Despite the challenges, the researchers are optimistic. If they succeed, unbinilium would be so massive that it would require an entirely new row on the periodic table, marking a historic breakthrough in the field of nuclear chemistry. The discovery of such an element could help unlock the mysteries of superheavy atoms and push the boundaries of our understanding of matter itself.
The researchers behind the new study are confident they can eventually create unbinilium. (Image credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab)
Superheavy elements typically break down almost immediately after they form due to their extreme instability. However, scientists predict that once elements reach a certain size, they may enter what’s known as the “island of stability”—a region where their nuclei remain intact significantly longer than currently known superheavy isotopes.
Unbinilium (element 120) is expected to fall within this stability zone, making its successful creation a game-changer for the study of superheavy elements. If researchers can synthesize it, they could unlock entirely new possibilities in nuclear chemistry and expand our understanding of atomic structure. However, there’s no certainty that unbinilium will behave as expected.
“When we’re trying to make these incredibly rare elements, we are standing at the absolute edge of human knowledge and understanding, and there is no guarantee that physics will work the way we expect,” said study co-author Jennifer Pore, a nuclear scientist at Berkeley Lab.
Despite the unknowns, the potential rewards are immense. Proving the existence of an island of stability could reshape theories about the limits of the periodic table and even lead to practical applications in the future. Scientists are eager to push the boundaries and see just how far the periodic table can go.