Ununoctium: Definition, Discoveries, Uses & Properties

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Jasmine Grover

Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead

Ununoctium is a transactinide chemical element in the periodic table with the symbol Uuo and the atomic number 118. In the modern periodic table, it is the last element of the 7th period and a p-block element

  • It was first created and discovered by a team of American and Russian chemists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia. 
  • Ununoctium is just a temporary nomenclature and the suggested name is Oganesson which will formally be agreed upon by the end of 2016. 
  • At present, it is known as Oganesson. 
  • It is in honour of the nuclear scientist Yuri Oganessian. 
  • This chemical element has the highest atomic mass and highest atomic number of all existing chemical elements in the periodic table. 
  • It seems to have very unstable radioactive atomic nuclei and is expected to be in a solid state as it has realistic radioactive effects.

Key Terms: Ununoctium, Oganesson, Periodic table, Chemical Element 118, Radioactive atomic nuclei


Ununoctium 

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Ununoctium is a synthetically created chemical element that seems to be unstable. Ununoctium is the only synthetic element of group 18. 

  • It belongs to the noble gas elements. 
  • It is a temporary terminology taken from the Latin root word whose meaning is one-one-eight. 
  • Ununoctium has the highest atomic number and highest atomic mass among all the existing chemical elements discovered. 
  • The atomic number is 118, and the symbol is Uuo. 
  • The Energy of the First Ionisation of the element is 839.4 kJ/mol

Properties of Ununoctium

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The atomic mass is 294g/mol. It belongs to the halogen element category. Atomic mass, crystal structure, density, colour, boiling point, melting point, and isotopes of the element are unknown.

Chemical Element 118: Ununoctium
Electronegativity according to the scientist Pauling Not known
The density of the element 4.9 – 5.1 g/cm3 ( estimated figure)
Melting Point of the chemical Not known
Boiling Point of the chemical 80±30 °C
Van Der Waal’s radius Not known
Ionic Radius of the element Not known
Umber of isotopes Not known
Electronic Shell configuration [Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p6
The energy of the First Ionisation 839.4 kJ/mol

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History and Discovery of the Ununoctium

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It was discovered on 19th July 2002 by nuclear scientists working at the joint institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia along with American scientists at the Department of Energy Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.


Production Method

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It is produced by bombarding atoms of californium-249 with the ions of calcium-48 in a particular setup. 

  • This process creates Ununoctium-294, an isotope with a half-life of just 0.89 milliseconds (0.00089 seconds), and 3 free neutrons. 
  • The californium target was irradiated with a total number of 1.6 x 1019 calcium ions. 
  • The process was completed in 1080 hours. 
  • This process results in three atoms of ununoctium.

Uses of Ununoctium

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There is no specific use for Ununoctium as it is harmful due to its radioactive effects. It is only used in basic scientific research owing to its limited production and availability.

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Things to Remember

  • Ununoctium is a synthetic, radioactive chemical element with the atomic number 118 and the symbol Uuo.
  • It was first synthesized in 2002 by a team of Russian and American scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia.
  • Ununoctium is classified as a noble gas and is the heaviest known element, with a mass of approximately 294 atomic mass units.
  • Because of its high atomic number, Ununoctium is extremely unstable and has a very short half-life, making it difficult to study.
  • Ununoctium has not been found in nature, and so far, only a few atoms of Ununoctium have been synthesized in laboratories.
  • The properties of Ununoctium are not well-known due to its instability, but it is predicted to be a gas at room temperature and pressure and to have a high density and melting point.

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Sample Questions 

Ques. What is Oganesson? (2 Marks)

Ans. Oganesson (Ununoctium) is part of an artificial chemical compound and is symbolized as Og with an atomic number 118. Oganesson is the official name of element 118, while Ununoctium was the temporary name given to it during its discovery process.

Ques. What is the history of the production of Ununoctium? (1 Mark)

Ans. Ununoctium was first synthesised in 2002 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, near Moscow, Russia, by a joint group of Russian and American scientists.

Ques. After whom is the element Ununoctium named? (2 Marks)

Ans. The name of the element honours the Nuclear physicist Yuri Oganesian, who played a key role in the discovery and creation of the most complex elements in the periodic table.

Ques. What are the atomic number and atomic mass of Ununoctium? (2 Marks)

Ans. The atomic number of Ununoctium is 118 and the atomic mass of Ununoctium is 294.

Ques. What is the group of elements in the periodic table that contains Ununoctium? (2 Marks)

Ans. The group of elements in the periodic table that contains Ununoctium is 18. The gas was found to be reactive, unlike all the other elements of that group.

Ques. What is the density of the element Ununconctium? (1 Mark)

Ans. The density of the element Ununconctium is 4.9–5.1 g/cm3 ( estimated).

Ques. What is the production method of Ununoctium? (3 Marks)

Ans. Ununoctium, also known as Element 118, is a synthetic element that is not found in nature and must be produced in a laboratory.

The production of Ununoctium is achieved through a process called nuclear fusion, where atomic nuclei are combined to create a heavier element. In particular, Ununoctium is typically produced by bombarding a target material with a beam of a lighter element, usually Calcium-48.

The resulting fusion reaction produces Ununoctium, which is highly unstable and quickly decays into other elements. Due to its short half-life, which is on the order of microseconds, only a few atoms of Ununoctium can be produced at a time, making it very difficult to study.

The production of Ununoctium is a complex and challenging process that requires advanced technology and specialized facilities, such as particle accelerators and nuclear reactors. As such, only a few research laboratories around the world have the capability to produce and study Ununoctium.

Ques. What are the physical and chemical properties of Ununoctium? (5 Marks)

Ans. The physical and chemical properties of Ununoctium are as follows - 

  • Ununoctium has the highest atomic mass and the highest atomic number of all known elements.
  • In the periodic table, it forms a part of the p-block elements and is the last element of the 7th period.
  • The Ununoctium atom's nucleus is very unstable, and since 2005, only 5 (about 6) atoms of isotope Oganesson-294 atoms have been found.
  • Although it is a member of group 18 (Noble Gasses) - the gas was found to be reactive, unlike all the other elements of that group.
  • Previously it was thought to behave as a gas under normal conditions and is now expected to be stable due to relativistic effects.

Ques. What is the outer electronic shell of Ununoctium? What is the energy of the First Ionization? (3 Marks)

Ans. Ununoctium, also known as Element 118, is a synthetic element and its electronic configuration is predicted to be [Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p6, which means that its outermost electronic shell has 6 electrons in the 7p subshell.

The first ionization energy is the energy required to remove one electron from an atom in its gaseous state. Since Ununoctium is a synthetic element and its properties have not been fully studied, its first ionization energy is not known with certainty. However, based on theoretical calculations, the first ionization energy of Ununoctium is predicted to be around 9.8 electron volts (eV), which is relatively low compared to other elements in the periodic table due to the large size of the atom and the screening effect of its inner electrons.

Ques. What are the different applications of Organesson?  (3 Marks)

Ans. Synthetic elements like Organesson are primarily studied for their fundamental properties and to expand our understanding of the structure and behavior of the elements in the periodic table. By studying these elements, scientists can gain insight into the underlying principles of nuclear physics and chemistry, and help refine our theoretical models of atomic structure and behavior.

In addition, the synthesis and study of synthetic elements like Organesson can also have practical implications for fields such as nuclear physics, materials science, and environmental monitoring. For example, the synthesis of heavy elements can help researchers develop better nuclear models that can be used to predict the behaviour of heavier isotopes and improve nuclear power technology.

However, at present, Organesson is primarily studied for its fundamental properties, and there are no known commercial or industrial applications for this element.

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