The world of chemistry is on the verge of a groundbreaking discovery! Researchers are tantalizingly close to creating a new superheavy element, tentatively named ‘unbinilium’ (element 120). This element, if synthesized, would be so massive that it would demand a new row on the iconic periodic table. Its creation could revolutionize our understanding of heavy-element chemistry and unlock a realm of previously uncharted atomic properties.
Currently, the periodic table boasts 118 known elements, ranging from hydrogen, with a single proton in its nucleus, to oganesson, containing at least 194 subatomic particles in its core. However, scientists have long theorized that even heavier elements exist in the cosmos, and they’ve even predicted their behavior.
The two most promising candidates for these superheavy elements are ununennium (element 119) and unbinilium (element 120). These elements are so massive that they simply don’t fit within the existing seven rows of the periodic table. Their discovery would necessitate an eighth row on this iconic chart, expanding our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the universe.
In a recent study published in Physical Review Letters, researchers unveiled a novel technique for creating the superheavy element livermorium (element 116). This technique involves bombarding plutonium-244, an isotope of plutonium with extra neutrons, with vaporized ions, or charged atoms, of titanium. The researchers believe that this same technique can be used to create unbinilium by shooting titanium ions at isotopes of californium, an element heavier than plutonium.
This study serves as a crucial proof of concept, paving the way for scientists to intensify their search for unbinilium. “This reaction had never been demonstrated before, and it was essential to prove it was possible before embarking on our attempt to make [element] 120,” stated Jacklyn Gates, a nuclear scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in California. “Creation of a new element is an extremely rare feat. It’s exciting to be a part of the process and to have a promising path forward.”
However, the creation of unbinilium is a challenging endeavor. The researchers took over 22 days to create just two atoms of livermorium using Berkeley Lab’s 88-Inch Cyclotron machine, which continuously bombarded the plutonium isotope with titanium ions. Creating unbinilium could take even longer. “We think it will take about 10 times longer to make [element] 120 than [element] 116,” explained Reiner Kruecken, a nuclear scientist at Berkeley Lab. “It’s not easy, but it seems feasible now.”
Superheavy elements are notoriously unstable, quickly breaking down after formation. But scientists predict that once elements reach a certain size, they will enter a state of “island of stability” where they will persist considerably longer than currently known superheavy isotopes. Unbinilium is expected to reside within this island of stability, which would open up a wealth of possibilities for researching superheavy elements.
“When we’re trying to make these incredibly rare elements, we are standing at the absolute edge of human knowledge and understanding, and there is no guarantee that physics will work the way we expect,” cautioned Jennifer Pore, a nuclear scientist at Berkeley Lab. The creation of unbinilium could not only rewrite the periodic table but also revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the universe, offering a glimpse into a realm of atomic physics we’ve only begun to explore.
