Journal Super Heavy Elements

Q.
1 What is a heavy element?
2 What is a super heavy element?
3 How are new elements discovered?
4 What are some properties of these artificial elements?
5 What are the "island of stability" and the "sea of instability?"
6 Why is this type of research important?
7 How can these elements be used practically?

A
1. A heavy element is when an element that has an atomic number that is greater than 92.
2. A super heavy element is when an element has an atomic number that is greater than 112.
3. There are several experimental techniques that have been used to discover new elements, one cool way is to create nuclear explosions. Some other techniques include neutron capture reactions, light-ion charged particle reactions, and heavy ion transfer reactions.
4. Artificial elements properties are unstable and radioactive, which either tend to decay longer or quicker.
5. The “island of stability” is a predicted area of superheavy elements with half-lives that are longer than the half-lives of other superheavy elements and are much more stable. The “sea of instability” is included on the periodic table and contains elements that are highly unstable. These isotopes have very short half-live that live up to micro or nanoseconds.
6. This research is important because it helps prove the existance of the “island of stability” and its limits to the periodic table. It also helps scientists understand how the nucleus keeps together and how it abides the fission process.
7. Previously used elements are already used practically such as americium, which is used in smoke detectors. But scientists do not know most of the practical applications for these elements which are mostly yet undiscovered.