🔹 Basic Information

  • Element Name: Nihonium
  • Discovered By: RIKEN (Japan), with earlier contributions from Russian-American teams
  • Year of Discovery: First created in 2003; officially named in 2016
  • Category: Post-transition Metal (Superheavy Element)
  • Group: 13 (same group as boron, aluminum, gallium)
  • State at Room Temperature: Unknown (likely solid) ❓

Nihonium is a synthetic, radioactive element, meaning it’s man-made in labs and doesn’t exist naturally on Earth.


🔸 Chemical Properties

  • Chemical Symbol: Nh
  • Atomic Number: 113
  • Atomic Mass: ~286 u (most stable isotope)
  • Valency: Predicted: +1, +3
  • Electronic Configuration: [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p¹ (predicted)

Although it’s in Group 13, like aluminum and gallium, it might behave very differently due to its large size and unstable nucleus.


📘 Basic Things to Know

Nihonium is the first element ever discovered in Asia, and its name comes from “Nihon,” which means Japan 🇯🇵.


🤔 Interesting Facts

  • It was the first element to be named after Japan, honoring Japanese contributions to science 🌸
  • Only a few atoms of nihonium have ever been made, each lasting only milliseconds ⏱️
  • It was created by bombarding bismuth (Bi) with zinc (Zn) atoms in a particle accelerator 💥
  • Scientists believe nihonium may act more like a metalloid or heavy metal than a typical Group 13 element
  • Because of its short lifespan, its chemistry is mostly theoretical for now 🧪

🔧 Common Uses

⚠️ Nihonium has no practical uses due to its extreme rarity and short half-life.

  • Scientific Research: Helps scientists study how superheavy elements are formed
  • Testing Theories: Used in atomic structure and nuclear physics research
  • Periodic Table Expansion: Its discovery shows that science is still exploring the boundaries of chemistry 🧭

📚 Conclusion

Nihonium is a superheavy, short-lived element that represents international scientific achievement and curiosity. For students, it’s a fascinating reminder that the periodic table is still growing, and there’s much more to discover! 🌟🧪


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