Question

In 2012, flerovium (Fl) and livermorium (Lv) were officially named by IUPAC. Identify the longest-lived isotope of each element and its half-life.

Short answer

Flerovium-289 with a 2.6-second half-life; Livermorium-293 with a 60-millisecond half-life.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the isotopes of Flerovium

Flerovium has several isotopes. The most notable ones are flerovium-289, flerovium-288, flerovium-287, and flerovium-286. The half-lives generally increase as the atomic mass number increases.

Determine the longest-lived Flerovium isotope

Flerovium-289 is the longest-lived isotope of flerovium. Its half-life is approximately 2.6 seconds.

Identify the isotopes of Livermorium

Livermorium also has several isotopes. Commonly reported isotopes include livermorium-293, livermorium-292, livermorium-291, and livermorium-290.

Determine the longest-lived Livermorium isotope

Livermorium-293 is known to be the longest-lived isotope of livermorium, with a half-life of about 60 milliseconds.

Key concepts

Flerovium

Flerovium (Fl), with the atomic number 114, is a superheavy artificial chemical element. It's part of the periodic table's transactinides, which are among the heaviest elements known. Being synthesized in labs, flerovium has no natural sources and is created through nuclear reactions. Isotopes of flerovium, such as flerovium-289, are produced by bombarding lighter elements like calcium with heavy elements such as plutonium. This high-energy collision merges atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei, resulting in flerovium isotopes. Due to its high atomic number, flerovium is subject to intense radioactive decay processes, and its isotopes have short half-lives. This makes studying and understanding flerovium challenging, but vital for advancing nuclear chemistry.

Livermorium

Livermorium (Lv) is another superheavy element, with atomic number 116. It was named after the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in recognition of their contributions to its discovery. Like flerovium, livermorium is not found in nature and must be synthesized through nuclear reactions. Typically, isotopes of livermorium are produced by colliding lighter nuclei, such as calcium-48, with heavier elements like curium. The most stable isotope of livermorium, livermorium-293, has a half-life of approximately 60 milliseconds. Despite its brief existence, the synthesis of livermorium advances our understanding of the chemical behaviors of heavy elements, thus enriching the field of nuclear chemistry.

Half-life

The concept of half-life is fundamental to understanding radioactive decay. It represents the time it takes for half of the amount of a radioactive substance to decay into a stable form or to another element. This period varies vastly among isotopes. For synthetic superheavy elements like flerovium and livermorium, their half-lives are critical for constructing their understanding, as their isotopes don't last long. Flerovium-289, with a half-life of about 2.6 seconds, exemplifies a relatively short-lived isotope. Longer half-lives allow scientists to study isotopes better, although for elements like flerovium and livermorium, even these moments are fleeting.

IUPAC

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is a globally recognized authority on chemical nomenclature, terminology, and standards. IUPAC's role is crucial in ensuring uniformity and clarity in chemistry. They are responsible for officially naming chemical elements and compounds, thus enabling scientists worldwide to communicate unambiguously. In 2012, IUPAC officially named flerovium and livermorium, recognizing their discovery and establishing guidelines for their identification. Such actions not only validate the scientific significance of these elements but also promote further research and exploration in nuclear chemistry.

Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear chemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the study of nuclei, radioactive elements, and their reactions and properties. This field is essential for understanding the behavior of superheavy elements like flerovium and livermorium. In nuclear chemistry, scientists can manipulate atomic nuclei to produce new elements and isotopes through nuclear reactions. This involves high-energy particle collisions, like those used to create flerovium and livermorium. The insights gained from nuclear chemistry have numerous applications, including medicine, energy production, and understanding fundamental aspects of matter. The ongoing study of elements like flerovium and livermorium helps advance this fascinating field, driving scientific and technological progress.