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| Appearance | ||||||
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| General properties | ||||||
| Name, symbol, number | unbihexium, Ubh, 126 | |||||
| Element category | superactinide | |||||
| Group, period, block | n/a, 8, g | |||||
| Standard atomic weight | unknown g·mol−1 | |||||
| Electron configuration | [Uuo] 5g6 8s2 (predicted) |
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| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 38, 18, 8, 2 (predicted) (Image) |
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| Physical properties | ||||||
| Atomic properties | ||||||
Unbihexium (pronounced /ˌuːnbaɪˈhɛksiəm/) is a hypothetical chemical element with atomic number 126 and symbol Ubh. It is of interest because it is in the hypothesized island of stability: specifically, the peak of it.
Contents |
History
The first attempt to synthesize element 126 was performed in 1971 by Bimbot et al. using the hot fusion reaction:
A high energy alpha particle was observed and taken as possible evidence for the synthesis of element 126. Recent research suggests that this is highly unlikely as the sensitivity of experiments performed in 1971 would have been several orders of magnitude too low according to current understanding.
Stable unbihexium
Calculations according to the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov Method using the non-relativistic Skyrme interaction have proposed Z=126 as a closed proton shell. In this region of the periodic table, N=184 and N=196 have been suggested as closed neutron shells. Therefore the isotopes of most interest are 310126 and 322126.
Predicted chemistry
Element 126 is predicted to belong to a new block of valence g-electron atoms. The expected electron configuration is [Uuo]5g6 8s2 although there may be a smearing out of the energies of 5g and 7d orbitals.
Recent calculations have indicated a stable monofluoride may exist, UbhF resulting from a bonding interaction between the 5g orbital on Ubh and the 2p orbital on fluorine.[1] Other predicted oxidation states include III, IV, VI, and VIII.
Unbihexium in popular culture
An Action Comics story by John Byrne established the fictional Kryptonite as element 126 on the periodic table of the elements.
The science fiction short story "Silence is Golden" by American science fiction author Lou Antonelli is based on the supposed discovery of Element 126 in a Texas open-pit mine. The story, published by Revolution Science Fiction in August 2003, received an Honorable Mention in "The Year's Best Science Fiction, 21st annual collection" (St. Martin's Press, New York, N.Y. Gardner Dozois, ed. 2004).
In the book Travelers Rest, by Daniel Archangel, element 126 is used by humans to send carbon dioxide and water to aliens (Travelers) in space. Element 126 allows the spaceship, containing water and carbon dioxide, to travel into space without radiation harming the water and carbon dioxide.
See also
References
- ^ Jacoby, Mitch (2006). "As-yet-unsynthesized superheavy atom should form a stable diatomic molecule with fluorine". Chemical & Engineering News 84 (10): 19. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/84/i10/8410notw9.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
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