Hassium
Hassium (symbol Hs) is a synthetic chemical element with atomic number 108. It is highly radioactive and has only been created in laboratories. It is named after the Latinized name for the German state of Hesse (Hassia), where the element was first synthesized.
Properties
As hassium is a synthetic element, it is not found naturally on Earth. It is produced through nuclear reactions. Because only a few atoms of hassium have ever been made, its properties are largely predicted based on its position in the periodic table as a transactinide element and heavier homologue of osmium. These predictions suggest that hassium is a solid under normal conditions and possesses metallic properties.
Relativistic effects are predicted to play a significant role in the properties of hassium, influencing its electron configuration and chemical behavior. Based on these calculations, hassium should form a stable tetroxide, HsO4, similar to osmium tetroxide, OsO4. Experiments have confirmed the formation of HsO4, which is volatile.
Discovery
Hassium was first synthesized in 1984 by a team led by Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany. The element was created by bombarding a lead-208 target with iron-58 nuclei using a heavy ion accelerator. This resulted in the production of hassium-265, which decayed by alpha emission.
Isotopes
All known isotopes of hassium are radioactive. The most stable known isotope is hassium-269, with a half-life of approximately 61 seconds. Other isotopes range in half-life from milliseconds to a few seconds.
Uses
Due to its extremely short half-life and the small quantities in which it has been produced, hassium has no practical applications outside of scientific research. It is primarily used in the study of the properties of superheavy elements and the testing of theoretical models of nuclear structure. Its synthesis and study contribute to our understanding of the limits of the periodic table.
Precautions
Hassium is highly radioactive and presents a radiation hazard. It requires specialized handling procedures and equipment to minimize exposure risks to researchers. Due to its short half-life and limited production, accumulation in the environment is not a concern.