Einsteinium
ine-STINE-i-em
Einsteinium (Es) is a silvery-white colored radioactive metal that has the atomic number 99 in the periodic table. It is an Actinoid Metal with the symbol Es.
Einsteinium is a paramagnetic metal and is highly radioactive. It glows visibly and releases a lot of heat during decay. Einsteinium was discovered as a component in the debir of the first hydrogen bomb in 1952and named after Albert Einstein. Einsteinium is a synthetic element created in laboratories and does not exist naturally as an element. It was identified by Albert Ghiorso in the fallout of the Ivy Mike nuclear weapon testing in the pacific ocean. The discovery of Einsteinium was kept a secret until 1955 due to the cold war and tension with the USSR. Einsteinium has no uses outside of nuclear research. It is a solid metal at room temperature and it has a melting point of 860°c and a boiling point of 996°c.
FAQ's
Argonne, Los Alamos, U of Calif
1952
Uses
It has no significant commercial applications.
Sources
Made by bombarding uranium with neutrons.
About the author
Nathan M
Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.
Citation
Es
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