Promethium (Pm) Fun Facts
"The Stolen Fire, a synthetic hero who provides long-lasting power in the darkest places."
The true essence of Promethium (Pm) on the molecular frontier.
Promethium is a radioactive, metallic element.
Promethium is found in the luminous paint on old watch dials.
Promethium is portrayed as a power source for deep space probes in some science fiction.
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Did You Know?
It is named after the Titan Prometheus from Greek mythology, who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans.
It is the second-to-last naturally occurring rare-earth element to be discovered because all of its isotopes are radioactive and it is extremely rare.
Tiny amounts of promethium can be used to make atomic batteries, where the radioactive decay is converted into electricity to power devices like pacemakers or spacecraft for many years.
It was once used in luminous paint for watch dials, but this has been discontinued due to concerns about radiation.
Although some is found in uranium ores, most promethium is produced artificially in nuclear reactors.