Fermium (Fm)
Overview of Fermium
Fermium is a synthetic, highly radioactive metal with atomic number 100. Only microgram quantities have ever been produced, and its isotopes have relatively short half-lives, making it unsuitable for practical applications. Fermium is named after Enrico Fermi, the physicist who built the world’s first nuclear reactor and pioneered nuclear science.
Natural Occurrence and Production of Fermium
Fermium does not occur naturally on Earth. It is created in laboratories or nuclear reactors through neutron bombardment of heavy elements.
Nuclear reactors: Fermium can be produced by the intense neutron irradiation of plutonium or uranium, creating heavier isotopes through a series of beta decays.
Quantities: Only micrograms have ever been isolated, and the most stable isotope, fermium-257, has a half-life of about 100 days.
History of Fermium
The discovery of fermium is closely tied to the development of nuclear weapons:
1952 – Discovery in an H-bomb test: Fermium was first identified in the debris of the first thermonuclear hydrogen bomb explosion on Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The immense neutron flux caused uranium atoms to capture multiple neutrons, producing new heavy elements including fermium-255.
Secrecy: The discovery was classified for national security reasons and not revealed publicly until 1955.
Independent synthesis: At the same time, scientists at the Nobel Institute in Stockholm produced a few atoms of fermium by bombarding uranium-238 with oxygen nuclei, confirming its existence through peaceful research methods.
Uses of Fermium
Fermium has no known practical uses outside of scientific research. Its isotopes are studied to better understand the properties of the heaviest actinides and the processes of nuclear fission and decay.
Biological Role of Fermium
Fermium has no biological role. It is considered highly toxic due to its intense radioactivity and can cause severe damage to living tissues if mishandled.