Mendelevium is an element that sits near the end of the actinide series and exemplifies many of the challenges and fascinations of modern nuclear and inorganic chemistry. Although invisible in everyday life, it has played an outsized role in shaping our understanding of heavy-element behavior, the limits of nuclear stability, and the techniques required to […]
Fermium is a member of the heavy elements that fascinate nuclear scientists and chemists alike. This article explores the origins, occurrence, production, and practical significance of Fermium, a rare and intensely radioactive synthetic element officially known as element 100. I will describe where it can be found (and why it is essentially absent from nature),
Einsteinium is one of the more exotic entries in the periodic table: a synthetic, highly radioactive member of the late actinide series that exists only in trace amounts and in the laboratories that can produce and handle it. Its story links the dawn of the thermonuclear age, advanced nuclear reactors, and cutting-edge research in heavy-element
Radon is a subtle but significant presence in the natural world and in our built environment. As an invisible, odorless, and tasteless noble gas that arises from the decay of heavy elements in the Earth’s crust, it quietly affects geology, public health, and even cultural practices. This article explores where radon appears, how it behaves,
Francium is one of the most elusive and intriguing elements on the periodic table. As the heaviest naturally occurring member of the alkali metal column, it attracts attention far more for its rarity and extreme radioactivity than for any practical utility. This article explores where francium is found, what makes its chemistry and nuclear behavior
Polonium occupies a striking and sometimes unsettling place in the periodic table and in modern history. This rare element is notable for its intense radioactivity, a variety of isotopes with differing lifetimes, and its associations with both useful niche technologies and high-profile incidents that highlight the dangers of uncontrolled radioactive materials. The material that follows
Radium is one of the most intriguing elements in the history of science: prized for its mysterious glow, feared for its invisible power, and instrumental in shaping modern ideas about atomic structure and medical treatment. This article explores where radium is found, how it behaves chemically and physically, its historical discovery and uses, modern applications
Actinium is a little-known but scientifically significant member of the actinide series, whose properties and radioactivity make it both a challenge to study and a source of powerful technological and medical applications. This article explores where actinium is found in nature and in the laboratory, its chemical and nuclear characteristics, current and emerging uses, and
Protactinium is a subtle but scientifically important member of the periodic table. With atomic number 91 it sits in the heart of the actinide series and carries a combination of complex chemistry, intriguing nuclear behavior and a history that links early nuclear science to modern environmental and reactor research. This article explores where protactinium occurs
Plutonium is one of the most intriguing and controversial elements in the modern world. Its unusual physical and chemical properties, combined with its role in energy production, space exploration and geopolitics, make it a subject of multidisciplinary interest. This article reviews where plutonium is found, how it is produced and used, and surveys associated scientific,
