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Ununtrium, symbolized as “Uut” and with an atomic number of 113, is a superheavy, extremely unstable element that is synthetically produced and cannot be found in nature. It is believed to be metallic and similar in chemical properties to thallium. Its production involves creating element 115, ununpentium, of which ununtrium is a decay product. The element was jointly discovered in 2003 by teams of scientists in the United States and Russia, and in 2004, Japanese researchers also synthesized and observed it. The name “ununtrium” is temporary until a permanent name is suggested and approved by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Ununtrium is the temporary name of a specific chemical element classified among the transactinide elements in the periodic table of elements. It is identified on the periodic table with the symbol “Uut” and has an atomic number of 113. This makes it among the heaviest elements known to man, which is why it is sometimes referred to as a superheavy element. Like other transactinides, ununtrium is extremely unstable, making it very difficult to observe in the laboratory and cannot be found in nature. As a result, scientists have to use expensive and time-consuming techniques to synthesize and study it.
Characteristics and Production
This element is believed to be metallic in nature and may share some chemical properties with thallium; some scientists call it eka-thallium. Given the general patterns that govern the periodic table, scientists can also estimate that ununtrium is probably a very reactive element, very similar to sodium. This element is also radioactive, like other transactinides.
Ununtrium is produced synthetically by first creating element 115, ununpentium, of which ununtrium is a decay product. Numerous isotopes of ununtrium have been identified, with half-lives ranging from milliseconds to minutes. The instability of this element and its isotopes makes it difficult to study. Scientists have hoped that through continued synthetic production of the element, they might be able to identify more stable forms.
Discovery and naming
This element was jointly discovered in 2003 by teams of scientists in the United States and Russia. In 2004, Japanese researchers managed to synthesize and observe the element as well, making it the first synthetic element produced in Japan. The name “ununtrium” is temporary until the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) decides who gets credit for its discovery and the honor of suggesting a permanent name. “Ununtrium” is a systematic element name based on its atomic number; “un un tri” means “one one three” and “-ium” is a standard suffix for chemical elements. It is also called element 113 (E113).
In 2011, the IUPAC determined that the criteria for element 113’s discovery had not been met, so the element was not given a permanent name. The Russian team had proposed “becquerelium” in honor of the well-known French physicist Henry Becquerel. The Japanese researchers had proposed “japonio” or “rikenium” in honor of their research. Element 113 may be without a permanent name for a while; some elements had temporary names for several decades while their nomenclature was sorted out.
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