QUICK REFERENCE
- Symbol: Mt
- Atomic Number: 109
- Atomic Weight: [278]
- Element Classification: Transition Metal, though its exact classification is uncertain due to its radioactive nature and limited experiments.
- Discovered By: Peter Armbruster, Gottfried Münzenberg, and the team at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany
- Discovery Date: 1982
- Name Origin: Named after Lise Meitner, an Austrian-Swedish physicist who contributed to the discovery of nuclear fission
- Density(g/cc): Estimated to be around 37.4 (predicted)
- Melting Point: Unknown
- Boiling Point: Unknown
- Appearance: Presumably metallic; actual appearance is unknown due to its extreme radioactivity and the minute amounts produced
- Atomic Radius(pm): Estimated
Discovery
Meitnerium was discovered in 1982 by a research team led by Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany. The element was produced by bombarding bismuth-209 with iron-58 ions. Meitnerium was named in honor of Lise Meitner, in recognition of her groundbreaking work on nuclear fission alongside Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, and her pioneering contributions to physics.
Relation to Other Elements
Meitnerium is the ninth member of the 6d series of transition metals and is located in group 9 of the periodic table, theoretically placing it in the vicinity of elements such as cobalt, rhodium, and iridium. Its properties are expected to somewhat resemble those of iridium, but detailed experimental data on meitnerium’s chemical properties are scarce due to its short half-life and the challenges associated with producing and detecting such a heavy element.
Natural Occurrence
Meitnerium does not occur naturally and is synthesized in particle accelerators. Its production involves sophisticated equipment and processes to achieve the nuclear reactions necessary to create such superheavy elements.
Uses
Currently, meitnerium’s applications are limited to scientific research, specifically:
- Nuclear Physics Research: Investigations focus on understanding the properties of superheavy elements, nuclear reactions leading to their formation, and probing the limits of the periodic table.
- Chemical Studies: Although very limited due to the short half-life and the minute amounts in which meitnerium can be produced, there is interest in attempting to study its chemical properties to compare with lighter homologues in its group.
The discovery of meitnerium added to the understanding of superheavy elements and honored the legacy of Lise Meitner. While practical applications are beyond reach at present, research involving meitnerium and other superheavy elements continues to push the boundaries of science, expanding our knowledge of the atomic world.