What is Fermium?
Fermium is a metal with an atomic number of 100. It is synthetic. The symbol representing fermium is Fm. Fermium is a radioactive element found in the actinide series of the periodic table. Many elements are created when neutrons of lighter elements bombard. Fermium is the heaviest of all those elements.
In the first-ever successful hydrogen bomb test, fermium was discovered. It was named after one of the greatest nuclear physicists, Enrico Fermi. However, it was Albert Ghiorso who discovered the element.
Till now, nothing huge has been discovered about fermium. However, scientists predict that fermium is an element that might be sensitive to air, steam and acid. Another fact about this metal is that it does not retain a vast half-life.
What Are Actinides?
The first element of the actinide series, Actinium, gives the name 'Actinide'. Actinide series is represented by 'an'. Actinide series comprises 15 elements ranging from 89 to 103. The elements of this series are Actinium, Thorium, Protactinium, Uranium, Neptunium, Plutonium, Americium, Curium, Berkelium, Californium, Einsteinium, Fermium, Mendelevium, Nobelium, and Lawrencium.
Properties of Fermium
Fermium symbol- Fm
Group- actinides
Period- 7
Blocking
Fermium atomic number- 100
Atomic mass of fermium- (257) gmol-1
State at 20°C- Solid
Electronic configuration of fermium- [Rn] 5f127s2
Isotopes- 257Fm
Fermium boiling point- Unknown
Melting point- 1527°C, 2781°F, 1800 K
Fermium Density (g cm-3)- Unknown
Fermium mass number- 257 u
Fermium colour- Silvery-white
Chemical Properties of Fermium
Reaction with Water - Very little amount of Fermium is generated, so fermium's behaviour with water is still unknown. However, it is predicted that it might resemble that of the element erbium (present just above fermium in the periodic table).
Reaction with Acids - Since only a small amount of fermium is generated, its reactivity with acids is unknown. However, scientists predict that fermium might be susceptible to acids.
Reaction with Air - A very minor amount of fermium is generated, so it's still to be discovered how it reacts with air. However, scientists predict that fermium might be sensitive to air.
Reaction with Bases - Fermium's reactivity with bases is not known due to the generation of a minor amount of fermium. It is predicted that it might be the same as that of erbium which is present immediately above fermium in the periodic table.
Reaction with Halogens - Reactivity of fermium is yet to be discovered. However, it is predicted that it might resemble that of erbium, the element just above fermium in the periodic table.
Uses of Fermium
It is known that fermium is generated in a minor amount, and all the isotopes have extremely short lives. So, there are no such commercial uses of fermium.
Scientists are using fermium for experiments. As there are many facts yet to be discovered about this element, therefore, scientists are still experimenting on fermium to get a broader horizon of knowledge about fermium.
Fun Facts on Fermium
There are still many things left to be discovered about Fermium. However, there are certain facts about fermium that are known currently.
Fermium does not occur naturally. So, it does not have any hazardous fact or effect on health.
Presently, fermium can be found in very small quantities. If neutrons of plutonium are bombarded inside a nuclear reactor, fermium can be attained in small quantities. 257Fm and other isotopes can be generated by this process.
It is known that fermium does not occur naturally any longer. However, earlier fermium was known to have been generated in natural nuclear reactor deposits.
Fermium has no role in the biological world. It is radioactive and hence toxic.
FAQs on Fermium
1. What is Fermium and where is it located in the periodic table?
Fermium (symbol Fm) is a synthetic, radioactive metallic element with an atomic number of 100. As a member of the actinide series, it is positioned in the f-block of the 7th period of the periodic table. It is one of the heaviest elements that can be formed by neutron bombardment of lighter elements.
2. How was Fermium first discovered?
Fermium was first discovered in 1952 in the radioactive fallout from the first successful hydrogen bomb test, 'Ivy Mike'. A team led by scientist Albert Ghiorso identified the isotope Fermium-255, which was formed when Uranium-238 atoms captured a large number of neutrons during the thermonuclear explosion. The discovery was kept secret until 1955.
3. What is the electronic configuration and most stable isotope of Fermium?
The ground-state electronic configuration of Fermium is [Rn] 5f¹²7s². Its most stable and longest-lived isotope is Fermium-257, which has a half-life of approximately 100.5 days. All other isotopes have significantly shorter half-lives, often decaying in minutes or less.
4. Why does Fermium have no commercial uses?
Fermium has no practical or commercial applications primarily because it is extremely difficult and expensive to produce, and it can only be created in minuscule amounts (nanogram quantities). Furthermore, all of its isotopes are highly radioactive and have very short half-lives, making it impossible to accumulate a large enough sample for any industrial or medical use. Its only purpose is for basic scientific research.
5. Is Fermium found naturally on Earth?
No, Fermium does not occur naturally on Earth. It is a purely synthetic element. Due to the short half-lives of all its isotopes, any Fermium that might have existed during the Earth's formation has long since decayed. It is exclusively produced in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators.
6. Why are the chemical properties of Fermium, such as its reactivity, largely unknown?
Studying the chemical properties of Fermium is exceptionally challenging due to two main factors:
- Extreme Scarcity: It can only be produced in tracer quantities, which are insufficient for traditional chemical analysis.
- High Radioactivity & Instability: The intense radioactivity and very short half-life of its most stable isotope mean that any sample decays away too quickly for extensive experimentation.
Consequently, many properties, such as its reactivity with air, water, and acids, are only theoretical predictions based on its position in the periodic table, often by comparing it to the element erbium.
7. How does Fermium's position in the actinide series influence its properties?
As a late-series actinide, Fermium's properties are heavily influenced by the 'actinide contraction,' similar to the lanthanide contraction. Its electrons in the 5f orbital are poorly shielded, leading to a higher effective nuclear charge. This is expected to result in a stable +3 oxidation state in aqueous solutions, a characteristic feature of late actinides. Its metallic and chemical behaviour is predicted to be similar to other heavy actinides and its lanthanide analogue, erbium.
