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Chemical Elements

Bohrium

Bh 107

An artificial element with limited practical applications.
Bohrium is a synthetic chemical element with the symbol Bh and atomic number 107. It belongs to the group of transition metals in the periodic table and is classified as part of the superheavy elements. Bohrium is highly radioactive and has no stable isotopes, making it of primarily academic interest rather than practical use.
Symbol
Bh
Atomic number
107
Atomic mass
270
Classification
Transition metals
Melting point
Unknown
Boiling point
Unknown
State of matter
Solid
Appearance
Unknown
Discovery and history
Bohrium was first synthesized in 1976 by a team of researchers at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and a group from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, USA. The element was named in honor of Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who made significant contributions to our understanding of atomic structure and quantum mechanics. The discovery involved the collision of bismuth-209 with heavy chromium ions, resulting in the formation of the element. While the initial discovery was confirmed shortly thereafter, the isolation of sufficiently large quantities for further research has proven challenging due to the element's immense instability and rapid decay. Subsequent research has been conducted to better understand Bohrium's properties, despite limited availability.
Natural occurrence
Bohrium does not occur naturally and has only ever been produced artificially in laboratory conditions. It is a man-made element generated through nuclear reactions involving the fusion of lighter atomic nuclei. The absence of natural occurrences is a characteristic of most elements heavier than uranium, as they are synthesized through artificial means, primarily in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. Due to its fleeting existence, bh produces isotopes with very short half-lives, which decay into lighter elements almost instantaneously, making its study particularly difficult.
Biological role and importance
Bohrium does not have any known biological role and is considered irrelevant to biochemistry or human biology. As a synthetic element that is highly radioactive and lacks stable isotopes, it has not shown any interaction with biological systems. Hence, it remains of interest primarily for scientific research. Its study contributes to the understanding of nuclear chemistry and the behaviors of superheavy elements but has no direct applications in medicine or environmental science.
Physical and chemical properties
Bohrium is a member of the sixth period of the periodic table and is classified as a transition metal. Due to its position in the periodic table, it is predicted to be a solid at room temperature, although the specifics of its physical properties are inferred rather than measured directly because of its radioactivity and limited production. It likely shares some characteristics with other heavy transition metals but the lack of extensive research leaves its bulk properties largely unknown. Bohrium is expected to exhibit behavior similar to its lighter homologs, such as rhenium, including high melting and boiling points, and may also show multiple oxidation states due to its electron configuration.
Uses and applications
Currently, the applications of Bohrium are almost nonexistent, primarily due to its synthetic nature and instability. It serves as a subject of study within nuclear and theoretical chemistry, contributing to our understanding of superheavy elements and their properties. Research on Bohrium and similar elements helps scientists investigate the limits of the periodic table and comprehend the underlying principles of nuclear interactions. Beyond theoretical research, no practical applications have been established, reflecting its status as an element largely kept within academic inquiry.
Did you know?
  • Bohrium is produced in minute amounts, with only a few atoms created during each experiment.
  • Its most stable isotope, Bohrium-270, has a half-life of approximately 61 minutes.
  • The element is a part of group 7 in the periodic table, which includes elements known for their complex and interesting chemistry.
  • Research into superheavy elements like Bohrium may one day help us understand more about the forces that govern atomic stability and the potential for creating new elements.