We’re wrapping up our series of transition metals, the belly of the periodic table, with a group of synthetic elements.
These elements – Bohrium, Hassium, Meitnerium, Ununnilium, Unununium, and Ununbium – were discovered and synthesized in a laboratory and are still used in research.
Named for Niels Bohr, Bohrium isotopes have very short half-lifes.
Only a little more than 100 atoms of Hassium have been synthesized to date. A German research team discovered in element in 1984, and named it after the German state of Hesse. It is not known to occur naturally on earth, but with extremely short-half lives, it’s a definite possibility.
Meitnerium, Ununnilium (Darmstadtium), Unununium (Roentgenium) and Ununbium (Copernicium) were all discovered or confirmed by the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Germany.