In a significant development for the field of nuclear chemistry, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California may have found a method to create “element 120,” an extraordinarily heavy element requiring a new row on the periodic table. The hypothetical element, also known as unbinilium, represents a possible breakthrough that could expand scientific understanding of atomic structure and superheavy elements. Although only 118 elements are currently recognised, with the heaviest being oganesson (element 118), scientists have long suspected the possibility of even larger atomic structures.
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New Technique Uses Titanium Ions for Synthesis
The researchers, led by nuclear scientist Dr. Jacklyn Gates, demonstrated a promising new technique in an October study published in Physical Review Letters. By bombarding plutonium-244, a neutron-rich isotope of plutonium, with supercharged titanium ions, the team successfully created atoms of livermorium (element 116). The scientists are optimistic that this approach can be modified to synthesise unbinilium by targeting californium, a heavier element than plutonium, using similar ion bombardment techniques.
Gates, commenting on the progress, stated that this reaction, which had not been previously demonstrated, was essential to prove feasibility before any attempt at synthesising element 120. The potential success of this method could provide researchers with a stable pathway toward synthesising superheavy elements beyond those currently known.
Prolonged Process Expected Due to Stability Challenges
Despite the breakthrough, the timeline for creating unbinilium remains lengthy. According to nuclear scientist Dr. Reiner Kruecken, a co-author of the study, generating just two atoms of livermorium took over 22 days of continuous cyclotron operations, which included constant titanium bombardment. The team estimates that creating unbinilium could require ten times as long, given its anticipated instability. Superheavy elements generally exhibit short lifespans, though scientists predict that some may eventually reach an “island of stability,” where atoms remain intact for longer periods.
Future Potential and Uncertainty
The possibility of unbinilium achieving stability opens new avenues for investigating superheavy elements, but uncertainty remains. Dr. Jennifer Pore, another study co-author, explained that the endeavour stands at the boundary of current scientific knowledge.
