QUICK REFERENCE
- Symbol: No
- Atomic Number: 102
- Atomic Weight: [259]
- Element Classification: Actinide
- Discovered By: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Dubna) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Discovery Date: Claimed in 1957 by Swedish scientists; conclusively identified in 1966
- Name Origin: Named after Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prize
- Density(g/cc): Estimated to be around 9.9 (predicted)
- Melting Point: 827°C (estimated)
- Boiling Point: Not determined
- Appearance: Presumed to be a metallic solid, but actual appearance is unknown due to its extreme radioactivity and rarity
- Atomic Radius(pm): Estimated
Discovery
The discovery of nobelium was marked by controversy and competing claims. Initially, a team of Swedish scientists at the Nobel Institute in Stockholm claimed the discovery in 1957, proposing the name nobelium. However, their claim was disputed due to irreproducible results. The element was conclusively identified in 1966 by researchers at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and independently by a team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the United States. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) eventually recognized the name nobelium in honor of Alfred Nobel.
Relation to Other Elements
Nobelium is a member of the actinide series, sharing common properties with these elements, such as radioactivity and the ability to form multiple oxidation states. Nobelium primarily exhibits a +2 oxidation state in aqueous solutions, which is unusual for the later actinides that more commonly form compounds in the +3 oxidation state. The chemical and physical properties of nobelium are not extensively studied due to the challenges associated with its production and instability.
Natural Occurrence
Nobelium does not occur naturally and is produced synthetically in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators through the bombardment of lighter actinide targets with charged particles.
Uses
Nobelium’s applications are limited to scientific research due to its short half-life, radioactivity, and the difficulties associated with its synthesis:
- Scientific Research: Nobelium is used in research focused on understanding the properties of actinide elements and investigating the behavior of heavy elements. Studies involving nobelium help to expand knowledge of nuclear reactions, atomic structure, and chemical properties at the extreme end of the periodic table.
- Synthesis of Heavier Elements: Like other heavy actinides, nobelium has been utilized as a target material in experiments aimed at synthesizing heavier elements, contributing to the discovery of new elements and exploring the limits of the periodic table.
The discovery of nobelium added to the understanding of transuranium elements, illustrating the complexities and challenges of expanding the periodic table. While practical applications are beyond reach, the scientific exploration of nobelium and similar elements continues to provide valuable insights into the nature of atomic and nuclear matter.