Rutherfordium
ruth-er-FORD-i-em
Rutherfordium (Rf) is a radioactive metal that has the atomic number 104 in the periodic table, its appearance is not fully known due to the minuscule amounts produced of it. It is a Transition metal in Group 4. It has the symbol Rf.
Rutherfordium was the first super heavy element to be discovered and is located in the transition metals after the actinides. The element was discovered in Dubna, by Geogry Flerov and his team who bombarded plutonium with neon ions. It as first discovered in 1964 but it was not until 1966 that the discovery was confirmed. Rutherforidum has few uses outside of nuclear research. It is a solid metal at room temperature and it has a melting point of 2100°c predicted, the boiling point is 5500°c which is also predicted.
FAQ's
A. Ghiorso, et al
1969
Uses
It has no significant commercial applications.
Sources
Made by bombarding californium-249 with beams of carbon-12 and 13, which produced an isotope with half lives of 4+ and 3 sec.
About the author
Nathan M
Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.
Citation
Rf
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