Einsteinium Element Properties and Information
Einsteinium Element Properties and Information
Einsteinium is 99th element on the periodic table. Elements are arranged in the periodic table on the basis of the atomic number. Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. Einsteinium has an atomic number of 99. It is located in the Group ‘Actinides’ and Period 7 of the periodic table of elements. It is named after the renowned physicist, Albert Einstein.
The debris which was left behind after the thermonuclear testing in Pacific Atoll, 1952 was sent to Gregory Choppin, Stanley Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, and Bernard Harvey for analysis. Within a month of analysis, they discovered 200 atoms of a new element, Einsteinium; however, they did not announce the discovery till the year 1955. By 1956, the team collected 10 millionth of a gram of einsteinium, this much amount was enough to see the metal with naked eyes. All the primordial einsteinium which may have been present during the formation of Earth has decayed by now. Formation of einsteinium from uranium and thorium requires multiple neutron capture which is highly unlikely of an event to occur naturally; hence, it is prepared synthetically in nuclear reactors.
Physical Properties
- Einsteinium is a synthetic radioactive metal, a transuranic actinide, which is also silvery-white in appearance.
- The atomic mass of einsteinium is 254.
- The melting point of einsteinium is unknown as of yet.
- The boiling point of einsteinium is unknown as of yet.
- The density of einsteinium is unknown as of yet.
- Physical properties of einsteinium are similar to fermium and holmium.
- Einsteinium crystallizes in face-centered cubic symmetry.
- Einsteinium’s radioactivity is so strong that it self-damages the crystal lattice.
- Einsteinium displays Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior.
Nearly 19 isotopes of einsteinium have been characterized so far.
Chemical Properties
- Einsteinium’s chemical properties are similar to fermium and holmium.
- Einsteinium is quite reactive like other isotopes.
- Einsteinium compounds which display an oxidation state of +3 are quite stable in aqueous and solid solutions.
- Einsteinium compounds which display an oxidation state of +2 are confirmed to form solid solutions.
Einsteinium compounds which display an oxidation state of +4 are theorized to exist but not yet observed or proven in practice.
Methods of Production
Nucleosynthesis: Einsteinium-248 is produced by bombarding californium-249 with deuterons. Einsteinium-249, einsteinium-250, einsteinium-251, and einsteinium-252 are produced by bombarding berkelium-249 with alpha particles. Einsteinium-253 is produced when californium-253 undergoes beta decay.
Relevance in Chemical & Process Industries
Einsteinium has no use outside of research work.
Relevance in Other Industries
Target: Einsteinium-254 is used as a target to create ultraheavy elements due to its large mass and adequate half-life time.
Health Effects on Exposure
Einsteinium does not occur naturally hence there is no reason to consider the study of its effects on human health.
Effects on surroundings
Einsteinium is not present in Earth’s crust hence there is no reason to consider study of its effects on environment.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einsteinium
