Atomic Number: 118
Atomic Mass: 294

Oganesson, with the atomic number 118, is one of the most fascinating and elusive elements in the periodic table. As a superheavy synthetic element, it exists for just milliseconds before decaying, yet its discovery marks a major achievement in nuclear chemistry. Named after Yuri Oganessian, a prominent physicist who played a key role in the discovery of many superheavy elements, Oganesson is currently the heaviest element known to science. Its properties challenge our understanding of atomic structure and chemical behavior, pushing the boundaries of what we know about the elements and the periodic table.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of Oganesson’s discovery, its unique properties, and its significance in modern scientific research.

The Discovery of Oganesson

Oganesson (chemical symbol Og) was first synthesized in 2002 by an international team of Russian and American scientists working at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, in collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. The team was led by Yuri Oganessian, a Russian nuclear physicist who has been instrumental in the discovery of several superheavy elements.

To create Oganesson, the researchers bombarded a californium-249 target with accelerated calcium-48 ions. The fusion of these nuclei resulted in the creation of Oganesson-294, the first isotope of the element, which has a half-life of less than a millisecond. Despite its short existence, the successful synthesis of Oganesson was a groundbreaking achievement, extending the periodic table to its heaviest known element.

In 2016, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) officially approved the name Oganesson, in honor of Yuri Oganessian, whose work in nuclear physics has been central to the discovery of many superheavy elements. Oganesson became only the second element to be named after a living person (the first being Seaborgium, named after Glenn Seaborg).

Who Is Yuri Oganessian?

Yuri Oganessian (born 1933) is a Russian physicist whose work has had a profound impact on the field of nuclear chemistry. He is one of the leading scientists involved in the synthesis of superheavy elements and has played a critical role in extending the known boundaries of the periodic table.

Oganessian’s contributions include the discovery of elements 114 (Flerovium), 115 (Moscovium), 116 (Livermorium), 117 (Tennessine), and finally 118 (Oganesson). His work has helped scientists better understand the forces that govern the stability of superheavy elements, and his theories about the island of stability have shaped much of modern nuclear research. Naming element 118 after Oganessian is a fitting tribute to his legacy in nuclear science.

Properties of Oganesson

Oganesson, as a superheavy element, is incredibly unstable and highly radioactive. Due to its short half-life—lasting less than a millisecond—it is difficult to study directly. As a result, much of what scientists know about Oganesson is based on theoretical predictions and comparisons to lighter elements.

Here are some key properties of Oganesson:

• Atomic Number: 118
• Atomic Mass: [294] (most stable isotope)
• Classification: Noble gas (Group 18)
• Radioactivity: All known isotopes of Oganesson are highly radioactive, with extremely short half-lives. The most stable isotope, Oganesson-294, has a half-life of just 0.89 milliseconds.
• State: Oganesson is expected to be a solid under standard conditions, though this is purely theoretical due to its instability.

As a member of Group 18, Oganesson is classified as a noble gas, along with helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). However, unlike the lighter noble gases, which are chemically inert, Oganesson is predicted to behave quite differently. The relativistic effects caused by its extremely heavy atomic mass may result in Oganesson exhibiting properties that are more metallic than gaseous, breaking the trend of chemical inertness observed in other noble gases.

Modern-Day Uses of Oganesson

Due to its extreme instability and short half-life, Oganesson has no practical applications. It decays almost immediately after it is created, making it impossible to use in any industrial, medical, or technological processes.

However, the study of Oganesson is crucial for advancing the field of nuclear chemistry and exploring the limits of atomic stability. Understanding Oganesson helps researchers refine their models of the periodic table and improve their knowledge of how atomic nuclei behave at the extremes of mass and atomic number.

Oganesson in Scientific Research

Oganesson, like other superheavy elements, plays an important role in nuclear research. One of the primary reasons for studying Oganesson is to better understand the island of stability, a theoretical region of the periodic table where superheavy elements are predicted to have much longer half-lives and greater stability. Oganesson itself is not part of this island, but studying its properties provides valuable data for scientists working to discover elements with more stable configurations.

Additionally, the study of Oganesson allows researchers to investigate the relativistic effects that occur in very heavy elements. These effects, caused by the high speed of electrons in such massive atoms, can significantly alter the chemical and physical behavior of superheavy elements. Understanding these effects helps scientists refine their models of atomic structure and the behavior of electrons in extreme conditions.

How Is Oganesson Produced?

Oganesson is produced through nuclear fusion reactions, where lighter ions are accelerated to high speeds and collided with heavier target nuclei. In the case of Oganesson, calcium-48 ions were bombarded into a californium-249 target, resulting in the fusion of the two elements and the creation of Oganesson. However, only a few atoms of Oganesson are produced at a time due to the complexity and difficulty of the process.

Once created, Oganesson decays rapidly, primarily through alpha decay, where it emits helium nuclei (alpha particles) and transforms into lighter elements. This rapid decay makes it challenging to study, but its creation is a significant achievement in nuclear research.

The Future of Oganesson Research

While Oganesson itself has no practical uses, its discovery is a major step forward in the exploration of superheavy elements and the limits of the periodic table. As scientists develop more advanced technologies and particle accelerators, they hope to produce larger quantities of Oganesson and similar elements, allowing for more detailed studies of their properties.

Research on Oganesson also contributes to the broader search for new elements beyond the current boundaries of the periodic table. By studying Oganesson and other superheavy elements, scientists can refine their understanding of nuclear stability and guide future experiments aimed at discovering elements with longer half-lives and potentially practical applications.

Conclusion

Oganesson, the superheavy element named in honor of Yuri Oganessian, represents the cutting edge of nuclear science and the quest to push the limits of the periodic table. Although it has no practical applications due to its extreme instability, Oganesson’s discovery is a milestone in our understanding of atomic structure, nuclear forces, and the behavior of superheavy elements.

As researchers continue to explore Oganesson and similar elements, they are working toward a deeper understanding of the fundamental forces that govern atomic nuclei and the final frontier of the periodic table. The study of Oganesson helps to unlock new insights into the nature of matter itself, paving the way for future discoveries in nuclear chemistry and physics.