1981

Bohrium

• The team in Darmstadt
• synthesized bohrium-262
• by targeting bismuth-209
• with chromium-54 nuclei.
• They detected the isotope
• from alpha decay chains
• containing fermium-250
• and mendelevium-250.
• They wanted to name it
• nielsbohrium, not to be
• confused with boron, after
• the father of atomic models.

Atomic number 107

• By the numbers—
• 107 protons
• 11 isotopes and 1 isomer
• 274 and 260
• heaviest and lightest
• known atomic weights
• 61 seconds and 9.5 miliseconds
• longest and shortest half lives
• 1981
• synthesis of bohrium-262
• 2009
• synthesis of bohrium-274

Reef of stability

• The premise that as superheavy elements become heavier
• they become more stable is true of bohrium;
• however, the theory that eventually heavier elements
• will reach an island of stability has not been proven.
• When people say that they can’t wait,
• they mean that it’s difficult for them to wait patiently.
• Really, they don’t have a choice; there are no alternatives,
• so, ironically, of course they will wait.
• So here we are,
• without a sight of land,
• like being grounded in reality,
• very much at sea.