fermium
Definition
Fermium is a chemical element with the symbol Fm and atomic number 100. It is a radioactive actinide element that is named after Enrico Fermi, an Italian-American physicist who played a major role in the development of nuclear physics.
Fermium was first synthesised in 1952 by a team of scientists at the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory in California. They bombarded uranium-238 with neutrons to create fermium-253.
Fermium is a silvery-white metal that is very rare in nature. It is not found in the Earth's crust, but it can be created by bombarding uranium-238 with neutrons.
Fermium is a very unstable element. Its most stable isotope, fermium-257, has a half-life of only 100.5 days. This means that half of the fermium-257 atoms in a sample will decay into other elements in 100.5 days.
Fermium is a very important element for scientists who study nuclear physics. It is used to study the properties of other radioactive elements and to create new elements.
Fermium is also a potential candidate for use in nuclear power plants. However, it is not yet clear whether fermium would be a practical fuel for nuclear power plants.
How can the word be used?
Fermium is a very rare element, and only a few grams of it have ever been synthesized.
Different forms of the word
Noun: fermium, Fm.
Adjective: fermium, fermionic.
Etymology
The chemical symbol for fermium is Fm.
Fermium is a radioactive element with a half-life of about 100 years.
Fermium is a very rare element, and only a few grams of it have ever been synthesized.
Question
What does fermium look like?
AQA Science Exam Question and Answer
Question:
Explain the significance of fermium in the field of nuclear science and its properties as a synthetic element. Describe how fermium is produced and its role in nuclear research. Provide examples of practical applications or experiments involving fermium.
Answer:
Fermium is a synthetic element with a significant role in nuclear science. It is part of the actinide series and is not found naturally on Earth. Fermium is created in nuclear reactors through the bombardment of lighter elements with neutrons.
Due to its high radioactivity and short half-life, fermium is challenging to isolate and study in large quantities. However, its properties, such as emitting alpha and beta particles, make it essential in nuclear research and the study of nuclear reactions.
Practical applications of fermium are limited due to its scarcity and hazardous nature. Nevertheless, it has been used in research to investigate nuclear structure and reactions, as well as to synthesise other heavy elements.
In conclusion, fermium's significance lies in its contributions to nuclear science, enabling researchers to explore the fundamental properties of atomic nuclei and expand our understanding of nuclear reactions.