Fermium: Element Properties And Uses

Fermium (Fm) is a highly radioactive, synthetic metal with an atomic number of 100. It is produced in nuclear reactors and high-energy explosions. Due to its short half-life and scarcity, fermium is primarily used for scientific research.

Introduction to the Element

Fermium is an artificial element and holds a unique position among the trans-uranic elements. Fermium was first found in the residues of a thermonuclear explosion and marks an important development in nuclear science. It has been named after the renowned physicist Enrico Fermi. This element has been produced in small quantities as it has highly radioactive properties with very short half-lives. While discussing this element in scientific terms, Fermium has been recognised for marking an important position in the periodic table as well as for offering evidence for understanding the phenomenon of heavy radioactive nuclei.

Chemical Properties Description

Fermium belongs to the Actinide series, and like all Actinides, Fermium displays characteristics of a heavier radioactive element. Fermium will likely be a metal and will have properties lying nearest to those of other Actinide elements; it will likely form compounds like other Actinide elements. The major reason for this prediction is that only very limited quantities of Fermium exist.

Physical Properties Data Table

For further details, please refer to Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM).

Common Uses

Owing to its rarity and high radioactivity, Fermium is not applied in practical applications. Rather, the major applications of Fermium primarily lie within the domain of scientific research. The major applications of Fermium include using it in experiments involving nuclear physics. By making use of Fermium, scientists can analyse the characteristics of heavy elements when they are subjected to extreme environments. Scientists can also analyse the models of nuclear elements using Fermium.

Moreover, limited amounts of Fermium have been used as a reference material for calibrating nuclear instruments. The accurate determination of the decay rates of Fermium isotopes helps improve the detection techniques of other radioactive materials. Fermium, despite not being applied widely industrially, has implications related to the techniques applied in experimental Fermium research, which can be applied generally in nuclear science.

Preparation Methods

Preparation techniques for Fermium are quite intricate and challenging. Fermium is made through neutron bombardment of lighter elements like uranium and/or plutonium by high flux. Through reactor processes or thermonuclear bombings, the combination of various neutron bombarding processes gives rise to the production of Fermium. Because an intense neutron environment is required in producing Fermium, this particular element can only be synthesised at facilities that have a reactor system and/or accelerators.

Generally, the process undertaken to create this element comprises a number of stages, such as the irradiation of the targets, the use of chemical separation methods to separate the created element, and rapid analysis to confirm the creation of Fermium even before the element decays. Due to the existence of short half-lives for its isotopes, scientists tend to work rather hastily to carry out experiments and determine the element's properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Fermium?

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How is Fermium made?

It is produced by bombarding light elements such as Uranium or Plutonium with neutrons in nuclear reactors or thermonuclear explosions.

Why Is Fermium Not Used in Products?

Being extremely radioactive and scarce, Fermium is only used for research and is not economically viable.

What Are Some Important Physical and Chemical Properties of Fermium?

Fermium is predicted to be metallic with trivalent ions, but its properties are for the most part based on prediction, since very few properties exist.

Are There Industrial Products Connected with Research on Fermium?

Yes, some of the research done on Fermium has led to innovations in radiation detectors, containment devices, and nuclear measurement instruments.