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Fermium
Element 100 · 257.09511 u
Fermium is the heaviest element that can be produced by neutron capture.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 257.09511 u |
| Density | 9.7 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1800.0 K |
| Appearance | Silvery metallic (predicted) |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 1.3 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 627.0 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 33.96 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +2, +3 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f12 7s2 |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Albert Ghiorso and others |
| Discovery Year | 1952 |
| Location | Berkeley, California, USA |
| Named After | Named after Enrico Fermi, pioneer of nuclear reactors |
About Fermium
Fermium was co-discovered with einsteinium in hydrogen bomb debris. It is the heaviest element producible by neutron bombardment. Only tiny amounts have been made.
Uses & Applications
No practical applications. Scientific research only.
Fun Fact
Fermium is the heaviest element producible by neutron bombardment. Anything heavier requires smashing nuclei together in accelerators.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 255 | - | 20.07 hours | No |
| 257 | - | 100.5 days | No |
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 5f12 7s2