Element 114

About 10 years ago, scientists in Dubna, Russia, reported the observation of element 114. Scientists at Berkeley, USA, and GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt Germany have also reported observations of element 114.

In the most recent GSI experiment using the 120 meter long GSI particle accelerator, the scientists fired calcium ions onto a plutonium coated foil. The nuclei undergo fusion to form the nucleus of the new element. The atoms of element 114 were then separated from the other products of the reaction and identified on the basis of the radiation emitted during their decay. Two different isotopes of element 114 were identified with mass numbers 288 and 289. The measured half-lives are of the order of one second.

Russian reports on the creation of elements up to atomic number 118 are yet to be confirmed.

Reference:
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (2010, June 22). Chemical element 114: One of heaviest elements created. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/06/100622102347.htm

Study Questions

1. What is the atomic number of the element 114?
2. What are the atomic numbers of calcium and plutonium?
3. Define the term atomic number.
4. Write an equation to represent the fusion of calcium and plutonium.
5. What is meant by the term isotope?
6. For each of the isotopes of element 114 in the article above, give the atomic number, mass number, number of protons, number of neutrons, and number of electrons in an atom of each isotope.
7. Write a nuclear equation for the decay of each isotope of element 114 assuming it undergoes beta decay.
8. Write a nuclear decay equation for the decay of each isotope of element 114 assuming it undergoes alpha decay.
9. What is meant by the term half life?
   
10. If the half-life an isotope of element 114 is assumed to be 1 second, what percentage of the original isotope will be present after 10 seconds?