Element

Livermorium Element Properties and Information

Published August 13, 2022 · Updated August 28, 2022

Livermorium Element Properties and Information

Livermorium is 116^th 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. Livermorium has an atomic number of 116. It is located in the Group 16 and Period 7 of the periodic table of elements and denoted by the symbol ‘Lv’. Livermorium is named after the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

There were several attempts to make the element-116 which were being proven unsuccessful until the year 2000. Yuri Oganessian, Vladimir Utyonkov, and Kenton Moody of the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (JINR) observed the atoms of the element-116 when bombarding curium with calcium ions. The essential target material which was crucial to the discovery was provided by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) hence they decided to name the new element, Livermorium, after that laboratory.

Livermorium does not occur naturally in Earth’s crust; it can only be prepared in a synthetic manner in particle accelerators. It cannot even be prepared in a nuclear reactor. All the isotopes of livermorium which have been characterized so far have been obtained synthetically.

Physical Properties

Livermorium is an artificial and extremely radioactive element which decays rapidly.
The atomic mass of livermorium is unknown as of yet.
The melting point of livermorium is unknown as of yet.
The boiling point of livermorium is unknown as of yet.
The density of livermorium is unknown as of yet.
Apart from nuclear properties, no physical properties of livermorium have been studied so far owing to short half-lives of all its isotopes and also the expensive production.
Livermorium is expected to melt at a higher temperature than polonium.
Livermorium is expected to boil at a lower temperature than polonium.
The longest-lived livermorium isotope, livermorium-293, has a half-life of 60 milliseconds.

Chemical Properties

Apart from nuclear properties, no chemical properties of livermorium have been studied so far owing to short half-lives of all its isotopes and also the expensive production.
Livermorium compounds expected to display an oxidation state of ‘+2’ oxidation state are predicted to be more stable.
Livermorium compounds expected to display an oxidation state of ‘+4’ oxidation state are predicted to be less stable.
The unambiguous determination of the chemical characteristics of livermorium is yet to be established.

Methods of Production

Particle Accelerators: All the elements which have atomic number greater than 100 can only be prepared through reactions in a particle accelerator such as a cyclotron; they are not formed in a nuclear reactor. Curium-248 bombarded with calcium-48 yields livermorium-293.