Ununtrium

Ununtrium Details

Ununtrium Symbol: Uut

Ununtrium Atomic Number: 113

Ununtrium Atomic Weight: (284)

What is Ununtrium?

Ununtrium (symbol Uut, atomic number 113) is a chemical element with a temporary name which was discovered in 2003 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.

Properties and Radioactive Isotopes
Ununtrium is predicted to share some properties with elements such as Thallium, Indium, Gallium, Aluminum, and Boron. However, it is expected to behave like a post-transition metal. This is the heaviest element in the boron group and the elements are also known as icosagens. Uut has an atomic weight of 286 and is solid at room temperature. Scientists predict a density of 16 grams per cubic centimeter. There are no stable isotopes, but some of its radioactive isotopes have been isolated in research settings, including Uut-286, Uut-285, Uut-283, Uut-282, and others. Uut-287 is expected to have a half life of about 20 minutes. Another isotope, Uut-293 is expected to be stable toward beta decay, but the isotope is yet to be discovered. The shortest-lived isotope of Ununtrium has a half life of only 0.24 milliseconds. Little is known about element 113 and its isotopes and possible compounds. The most stable isotope is Uut-286, which has a half life of 20 seconds. Thus, the atomic weight of Ununtrium is based on Uut-286, which is the longest-lived radioactive isotope. The atomic weight could change if an isotope with a longer half life is produced. The second longest-lived isotope, Uut-285 has a half life of about 5.5 seconds.

The element is predicted to show several oxidation states – +5, +3, and +2. Its ionization energy, covalent radius, and atomic radius are unknown and so are the melting and boiling points and electron configuration. These properties have only been extrapolated or predicted.

The color is unknown but is expected to be gray, silvery-white, or metallic. This is a p-block element. The group comprises sulfur, phosphorus, indium, gallium, chlorine, and other elements. Ununtrium is also predicted to be the most electronegative element in the Boron group.

Isolation, Decay, and Naming
Experiments were conducted in California, the U.S. and Dubna, Russia, and the research teams were led by Ken Moody and Yuri Oganessian. Fusion of americanum-243 and calcium-48 was used to isolate Ununtrium. The reaction produced 3 atoms of Uut-288 and 1 atom of Uut-287. They decayed through alpha decay. These isotopes of Ununtrium are radioactive and decay into isotopes of roentgenium. None of the isotopes identified undergoes beta decay meaning that they do not emit beta particles.

The element was first detected as an alpha decay product in 2003. Three names have been suggested – nishinanium, rikenium, and japonium. The Joint Working Group is tasked with approving and confirming the name.

Uses, Environmental Effects, and Biological Role
There are no known commercial uses of Ununtrium outside of scientific research. The element is used in scientific study only and has no known biological role. It is not found in the geosphere or atmosphere and is not an environmental hazard.

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