An Introduction to Tennessine
Tennessine, symbolized as Ts, is a superheavy element that exists for only a very short time. It is an artificial element, meaning it does not occur naturally on Earth and must be created in a laboratory. It holds the atomic number 117, making it one of the heaviest elements ever produced.
What is Tennessine?
Tennessine is classified as a synthetic, radioactive element. It belongs to the group 17 elements, known as the halogens, but its chemical properties are theoretical due to its extremely short lifespan. It is believed to be a volatile metal, though direct observation of its bulk properties is impossible. Its isotopes are highly unstable, decaying into other elements almost instantly after formation.
Discovery of Tennessine
The synthesis of Tennessine was a collaborative effort between scientists from the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, USA. The element was first created in 2010 by fusing nuclei of calcium-48 and berkelium-249. Further experiments in 2016 confirmed its existence, leading to its official recognition by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Meaning of its Name
The name “Tennessine” was chosen to honor the US state of Tennessee. This region played a crucial role in the element’s discovery through the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where essential research and production of the rare berkelium-249 target material took place. The suffix “-ine” is consistent with other elements in the halogen group.
Five Quick Facts about Tennessine
- Atomic Number: 117
- Symbol: Ts
- Nature: A superheavy, synthetic, and intensely radioactive element.
- Half-life: The most stable known isotope, Tennessine-294, has a half-life of approximately 51 milliseconds (0.051 seconds), meaning half of a sample would decay in that tiny amount of time.
- Classification: It is the second-to-last element in the seventh period of the periodic table and is a member of the halogen group, although its chemical behavior is largely predicted and not directly observed.