QUICK REFERENCE
- Symbol: Sg
- Atomic Number: 106
- Atomic Weight: [269]
- Element Classification: Transition Metal
- Discovered By: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory team
- Discovery Date: 1974
- Name Origin: Named after Glenn T. Seaborg, a Nobel laureate and pioneer in nuclear chemistry
- Density(g/cc): Estimated to be around 35.0 (predicted)
- Melting Point: Unknown
- Boiling Point: Unknown
- Appearance: Presumed to be a solid under standard conditions, but its actual appearance is unknown due to its radioactivity and the minute amounts produced
- Atomic Radius(pm): Estimated
Discovery
Seaborgium was discovered in 1974 by a research team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The team, led by Albert Ghiorso, successfully produced seaborgium by bombarding a target of californium-249 with oxygen-18 ions using the Super Heavy Ion Linear Accelerator (SuperHILAC). The element was named in honor of Glenn T. Seaborg, a Nobel laureate who was instrumental in the discovery of several actinide elements and who had contributed significantly to the field of nuclear chemistry. Seaborgium’s naming was unique because it was the first time an element was named after a living person.
Relation to Other Elements
Seaborgium is a member of the transition metals and belongs to group 6 of the periodic table, which includes chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten. Due to its position in the periodic table, seaborgium is predicted to share chemical and physical properties with these elements, particularly with tungsten, its lighter homologue. However, the properties of seaborgium are mostly theoretical or have been observed in only a few atoms at a time, due to its high radioactivity and the challenges associated with producing it in significant quantities.
Natural Occurrence
Seaborgium does not occur naturally and is synthesized in particle accelerators through the collision of lighter atomic nuclei.
Uses
The uses of seaborgium are exclusively within scientific research, specifically:
- Scientific Research: Investigations involving seaborgium are aimed at expanding the understanding of the chemistry and physics of superheavy elements. Experiments focus on probing its chemical properties, nuclear reactions, and atomic structure to gain insights into the behavior of elements at the far end of the periodic table.
The discovery of seaborgium added to the legacy of Glenn T. Seaborg’s contributions to science and extended the exploration of the periodic table into the realm of superheavy elements. While practical applications for seaborgium are currently beyond reach, its synthesis and study are crucial steps in the ongoing quest to understand the limits of material existence and the fundamental principles of chemistry and physics.