Livermorium: Element Properties and Uses

Introduction

Livermorium (Lv, atomic number 116) is an artificial superheavy chalcogen group element of the periodic table. It was first synthesized in 2000 by a team of American and Russian scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, together with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The name livermorium was officially given to the element in 2012 to honor the Lawrence Livermore laboratory's role in superheavy element discovery.

Despite being produced only in a few atoms at a time, livermorium provides scientists with a unique opportunity to study nuclear stability, relativistic effects, and the behavior of electrons in superheavy nuclei that cannot be studied in naturally occurring elements.

History and Naming

The synthesis of livermorium was an extension of a general effort to produce elements beyond uranium (transuranium elements). Researchers bombarded targets of curium-248 with calcium-48 ions in particle accelerators to produce isotopes of livermorium-293 and livermorium-292. The isotopes have half-lives of approximately 60–70 milliseconds, reflecting the extreme instability of superheavy nuclei.

The name "livermorium" commemorates the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for its position at the forefront of synthesizing superheavy elements and nuclear physics.

Chemical Properties

Due to its superheavy nature and short half-life, livermorium's chemical properties are mostly theoretical. It is expected to be similar to tellurium and polonium, the other members of group 16, and form -2 oxidation states, for instance. However, relativistic effects severely alter its electron orbitals, which may render bonding and reactivity unlike those observed for the lighter chalcogens.

It is expected to exhibit metallic character, unlike that of its lighter group 16 counterparts, and may even give volatile compounds under experimental conditions.

For more potential and known properties of livermorium, please check Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM).

Production Methods

Livermorium is synthesized by nuclear fusion reactions in particle accelerators:

1. Target Preparation: Targets of heavy actinides such as curium-248 or plutonium-244 are prepared.

2. Projectile Bombardment: A beam of calcium-48 ions is accelerated and bombarded onto the target to induce fusion.

3. Detection and Identification: Livermorium atoms formed are immediately identified through alpha spectroscopy and decay chains as the isotopes decay in milliseconds.

• Case example: The Dubna team, in the first 2000 synthesis, identified four atoms of livermorium-292, confirming its creation and enabling the monitoring of decay chains that finally end at the familiar isotopes of lead and bismuth.

The yield is extremely low, even less than ten atoms per experiment, requiring beam intensity, energy accuracy, and target stability.

Uses of Livermorium

Livermorium has no potential uses due to its high radioactivity and short half-life. It is primarily of scientific use, providing insights into:

•Nuclear Stability: Experiments with Livermorium establish the "island of stability" of superheavy elements and influence predictions for more long-lived isotopes.

• Theoretical Chemistry: The element facilitates demonstration of relativistic quantum models of physical and chemical behavior in superheavy nuclei.

• Nuclear Physics Methodologies: Synthesis of livermorium has fostered developments in particle accelerator technology, alpha decay detection techniques, and isotope separation.

Case Example: In 2015, researchers used synthesized livermorium isotopes to confirm theoretical decay chains as computed employing nuclear shell models. This played a crucial role in providing data for stability modelled elements Z > 110, to inform future efforts to synthesize longer-lived superheavy elements such as oganesson (Og, Z=118).

Frequently Asked Questions

How is livermorium made?

Through nuclear fusion, bombarding heavy actinide targets (plutonium or curium) with calcium-48 ions in particle accelerators.

What is it about livermorium that is unstable?

Its superheavy nucleus is under extreme Coulomb repulsion, thus having very brief half-lives (milliseconds).

What are its chemical properties?

Largely theoretical, but similar to group 16 elements though strongly influenced by relativistic electron effects, likely to exhibit metallic character.

Why is its production significant?

The production of livermorium pushes the limits of nuclear chemistry, refining methods for detecting and studying superheavy elements.

What is livermorium's application in research?

It provides valuable insights into the nuclear forces, decay mechanisms, and the hypothetical island of stability, forming the foundation for superheavy element investigations.

Does it have any practical uses?

Not as yet—its utility is purely in frontier research, as it helps scientists develop models of atomic structure and nuclear stability.