The first 117 elements on the periodic table were relatively normal. Then along came element 118.
Oganesson, named for Russian physicist Yuri Oganessian (SN: 1/21/17, p. 16), is the heaviest element currently on the periodic table, weighing in with a huge atomic mass of about 300. Only a few atoms of the synthetic element have ever been created, each of which survived for less than a millisecond. So to investigate oganesson’s properties, scientists have to rely largely on theoretical predictions.
Recent papers by physicists, including one published in the Feb. 2 Physical Review Letters, detail some of the strange predicted properties of the weighty element.
1. Relatively weird
According to calculations using classical physics, oganesson’s electrons should be arranged in shells around the nucleus, similar to those of xenon and radon, two other heavy noble gases. But calculations factoring in Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which take into account the high speeds of electrons in superheavy elements, show how strange the element may be. Instead of residing in discrete shells — as in just about every other element — oganesson’s electrons appear to be a nebulous blob.
Spot the difference
Simulations using classical physics (top row) predict that oganesson’s electrons exist in distinct shells (green) around the nucleus, similar to those of two other heavy noble gases, radon and xenon. But simulations that take into account Einstein’s special theory of relativity (bottom row) suggest oganesson’s electrons are arranged in an indistinct blob, unlike radon and xenon. (Electrons are unlikely to be in blue or red areas.)
2. Getting a reaction
On the periodic table, oganesson is grouped with the noble gases, which tend not to react with other elements. But because of how its electrons are configured, oganesson is the only noble gas that’s happy to both give away its electrons and receive electrons. As a result, the element could be chemically reactive.
3. Solid as a rock?
Oganesson’s electron configuration could also let atoms of the element stick together, instead of just bouncing off one another as gas atoms typically do. At room temperature, scientists expect that these oganesson atoms could clump together in a solid, unlike any other noble gases.
4. Bubbling up
Protons inside an atom’s nucleus repel one another due to their like charges, but typically remain bound together by the strong nuclear force. But the sheer number of oganesson’s protons — 118— may help the particles overcome this force, creating a bubble with few protons at the nucleus’s center, researchers say. Experimental evidence for a “bubble nucleus” has been found for an unstable form of silicon (SN: 11/26/16, p. 11).
5. Neutral territory
Unlike oganesson’s protons, which are predicted to be in distinct shells in the nucleus, the element’s neutrons are expected to mingle. This is at odds with some other heavy elements, in which the neutron rings are well-defined.
For Oganessian, these theoretical predictions about the element have come as a surprise. “Now it’s up to experiment,” he says. Predictions about the bizarre element could be put to the test once a facility for creating superheavy elements, under construction at Oganessian’s lab in Dubna, Russia, is up and running later this year.
Editor’s note: This story was updated February 12 , 2018, to clarify how oganesson could be chemically reactiveand on February 14, 2018, to correct the description of the element’s electron shells in the sidebar.
As an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the world of chemistry and physics, I bring to you a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for the intricate details of the periodic table and the elements it comprises. My expertise extends to the cutting edge of scientific exploration, allowing me to delve into the complexities of the latest developments in the field. Now, let's explore the fascinating realm of Oganesson, Element 118, and unpack the concepts discussed in the article you provided.
-
Oganesson's Unusual Electron Configuration:
- Classical physics predicts that Oganesson's electrons should be arranged in shells around the nucleus, akin to heavy noble gases like xenon and radon.
- However, when Einstein's special theory of relativity is considered, accounting for the high speeds of electrons in superheavy elements, simulations suggest that Oganesson's electrons form a nebulous blob rather than distinct shells.
-
Chemical Reactivity of Oganesson:
- Despite being grouped with noble gases on the periodic table (which are generally unreactive), Oganesson, due to its unique electron configuration, is predicted to exhibit chemical reactivity.
- Oganesson is expected to be the only noble gas capable of both donating and receiving electrons.
-
Unusual Solid State Behavior:
- Oganesson's electron configuration could lead to atoms of the element sticking together, behaving as a solid at room temperature.
- This behavior sets Oganesson apart from other noble gases, which typically exist as gases at room temperature.
-
Formation of a "Bubble Nucleus":
- Oganesson's nucleus, with its 118 protons, may overcome the repulsion between protons by creating a bubble with few protons at the center.
- This phenomenon is suggested to be a result of the sheer number of protons in Oganesson, allowing them to overcome the strong nuclear force that typically binds protons together.
-
Neutron Arrangement:
- Unlike the well-defined neutron rings observed in some heavy elements, Oganesson's neutrons are predicted to mingle rather than follow a distinct shell structure.
- This neutron behavior contrasts with that of other heavy elements.
It's noteworthy that these predictions are largely theoretical, and experimental evidence is awaited. The article hints at a facility under construction in Dubna, Russia, where experiments with superheavy elements, including Oganesson, will be conducted, putting these theoretical predictions to the test. The dynamic nature of scientific exploration, as demonstrated in the article, underscores the excitement and uncertainty that come with pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the elements and the universe.
