Element 116
Element 116, known as Livermorium (Lv), is a synthetic superheavy element in the periodic table that was first discovered in 2000. Named after the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, it is a member of the group 16 elements, also referred to as chalcogens. This element is not found naturally on Earth, but it can be produced through nuclear fusion reactions in laboratories. Livermorium is a highly unstable element with a very short half-life, making it challenging to study and limiting its potential practical applications.
Bob Lazar, a controversial figure who claims to have worked on reverse engineering extraterrestrial technology at a site called S-4, near Area 51, has made various assertions about element 115 (Moscovium) and its properties. According to Lazar, element 115 serves as a fuel source for alien spacecraft, which allegedly generate energy by converting element 115 into element 116 (Livermorium) through a nuclear reaction.
How Would you make Element 116 from Element 115?
Creating element 116 (Livermorium) from element 115 (Moscovium) requires adding one more proton to the nucleus of Moscovium. This can be achieved through a nuclear reaction involving the bombardment of Moscovium with a lighter element, resulting in the fusion of their nuclei and the formation of Livermorium.
One possible approach would be to use proton (hydrogen-1) as the projectile. The reaction would involve bombarding Moscovium-290, for example, with protons in a particle accelerator. If a proton successfully fuses with the nucleus of Moscovium-290, it would result in the formation of Livermorium-291:
¹H + ²⁹⁰Mc → ²⁹¹Lv
However, this type of reaction faces challenges due to the so-called “Coulomb barrier,” which results from the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged nuclei of the two reactants. Overcoming the Coulomb barrier requires using high-energy particles in the accelerator, which can make the reaction less efficient and more difficult to achieve.
It is important to note that producing Livermorium from Moscovium would still yield a highly unstable element with a very short half-life, similar to the Livermorium isotopes produced through other nuclear reactions.
When a nuclear reaction occurs, the difference in binding energy between the initial reactants and the final products is released as kinetic energy and radiation. This difference in binding energy is often referred to as the “Q-value” of the reaction.
The Q-value would depend on the difference in binding energies between the Moscovium-290 nucleus, the proton, and the resulting Livermorium-291 nucleus. If the reaction is exothermic, meaning the final products have a lower total energy than the initial reactants, then there will be a release of energy in the form of heat, kinetic energy, and gamma radiation.
In general, the energy released during a nuclear reaction can be on the order of several MeV (million electron volts) per nucleon. For example, when synthesizing heavy elements, the energy released is typically in the range of 10-200 MeV.
How Much Energy would be off by one gram of Element 115 converted to 116?
To estimate the energy released by converting one gram of element 115 (Moscovium) to element 116 (Livermorium), we can use the following steps:
- Determine the number of nuclei in one gram of Moscovium.
- Estimate the energy released per nuclear reaction.
- Multiply the number of nuclei by the energy per reaction to find the total energy released.
Step 1: Determine the number of nuclei in one gram of Moscovium
Assuming the most stable isotope of Moscovium (Mc-290) is used, we can calculate the number of nuclei (atoms) in one gram using Avogadro’s number and the molar mass of Mc-290:
Molar mass of Mc-290 ≈ 290 g/mol
Number of atoms = (1 g Mc-290) × (1 mol Mc-290 / 290 g) × (Avogadro’s number, 6.022 × 10^23 atoms/mol) ≈ 2.08 × 10^21 atoms
Step 2: Estimate the energy released per nuclear reaction
As previously mentioned, the energy released during a nuclear reaction involving the synthesis of Livermorium from Moscovium can be on the order of several MeV per nucleon. For simplicity, let’s assume an average of 10 MeV per nucleon is released in this specific reaction.
Since each Moscovium-290 nucleus has 290 nucleons (protons + neutrons), the energy released per nuclear reaction would be:
Energy per reaction = (10 MeV/nucleon) × (290 nucleons) = 2900 MeV
Step 3: Multiply the number of nuclei by the energy per reaction to find the total energy released
Total energy released = (2.08 × 10^21 atoms) × (2900 MeV/atom)
Now, convert MeV to Joules:
1 MeV = 1.602 × 10^(-13) J
Total energy released in Joules = (2.08 × 10^21 atoms) × (2900 MeV/atom) × (1.602 × 10^(-13) J/MeV) ≈ 9.71 × 10^11 J
Finally, convert Joules to kilowatt-hours:
1 kWh = 3.6 × 10^6 J
Total energy released in kWh = (9.71 × 10^11 J) / (3.6 × 10^6 J/kWh) ≈ 269,722 kWh
If one gram of Moscovium-290 could be entirely converted into Livermorium through nuclear reactions, it would release approximately 269,722 kWh of energy.
How many Homes could this power for 1 year 269,722 kWh of energy?
As mentioned earlier, the average household in the United States consumes approximately 877 kWh per month. Over a year, this amounts to:
Annual energy consumption per household = 877 kWh/month × 12 months = 10,524 kWh/year
Now, we can estimate the number of homes that could be powered for one year using 269,722 kWh:
Number of homes = (Total energy available) / (Annual energy consumption per household) Number of homes = 269,722 kWh / 10,524 kWh/year ≈ 25.64
So, approximately 25 to 26 homes could be powered for one year using 269,722 kWh of energy. Keep in mind that these estimates are based on average energy consumption in the United States and could vary depending on factors such as location, climate, and energy efficiency measures in the homes.
How does this compare to a typical Nuclear Power Plant?
In a typical nuclear power plant, the energy produced comes from the fission of uranium-235, a naturally occurring isotope of uranium. To estimate the number of homes that can be powered by 1 gram of uranium, we need to follow these steps:
- Calculate the energy released from the fission of 1 gram of uranium-235.
- Determine the efficiency of the nuclear power plant.
- Estimate the number of homes that can be powered using the net energy produced.
Step 1: Calculate the energy released from the fission of 1 gram of uranium-235
Uranium-235 releases approximately 200 MeV of energy per fission event. To calculate the energy released from 1 gram of uranium-235, we need to know the number of fission events.
Number of atoms in 1 gram of uranium-235 = (1 g) / (235 g/mol) × Avogadro’s number (6.022 × 10^23 atoms/mol) ≈ 2.56 × 10^21 atoms
Now, assume that each atom undergoes fission:
Total energy released = (2.56 × 10^21 atoms) × (200 MeV/atom) × (1.602 × 10^(-13) J/MeV) ≈ 8.20 × 10^10 J
Step 2: Determine the efficiency of the nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plants are not 100% efficient due to energy losses at various stages (thermal energy to mechanical energy to electrical energy). A typical nuclear power plant has an efficiency of about 33%.
Net energy produced = (8.20 × 10^10 J) × (0.33) ≈ 2.71 × 10^10 J
Step 3: Estimate the number of homes that can be powered using the net energy produced
Convert Joules to kilowatt-hours (kWh):
Net energy produced in kWh = (2.71 × 10^10 J) / (3.6 × 10^6 J/kWh) ≈ 7,527 kWh
Assuming the average annual energy consumption of a household in the United States is 10,524 kWh:
Number of homes powered for 1 year = (7,527 kWh) / (10,524 kWh/year) ≈ 0.72
So, 1 gram of uranium-235 in a typical nuclear power plant could provide enough energy to power approximately 72% of a single home for one year, considering average energy consumption in the United States. This estimate is subject to variations based on factors like the efficiency of the power plant and the actual energy consumption of the homes.
Discovery of Livermorium
The discovery of Livermorium took place at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, during a collaborative effort between Russian and American scientists. The research team, led by Yuri Oganessian and Ken Moody, bombarded a target made of curium-248 with accelerated calcium-48 ions, resulting in the synthesis of Livermorium. This element was officially recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in 2011.
Livermorium has no stable isotopes, and its most stable isotope, Livermorium-293, has a half-life of only about 53 milliseconds. The element’s fleeting existence is attributed to its position in the periodic table, beyond the so-called “island of stability.” This theoretical region in the periodic table is home to superheavy elements that may have relatively longer half-lives and greater stability. Livermorium’s instability is due to its large number of protons, causing a strong repulsive force between them, leading to the rapid decay of the nucleus.
Given the extremely short half-life of Livermorium, direct observation of its properties is challenging, but scientists have made several deductions based on periodic trends and theoretical calculations. As a member of group 16, it is expected to behave similarly to other elements in the same group, such as oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. However, relativistic effects, which become more significant as atomic number increases, may cause deviations in its properties compared to lighter chalcogens.
- Livermorium is produced through nuclear fusion of curium-248 and calcium-48, resulting in the synthesis of Livermorium-293, the most stable isotope (Source: Oganessian, Yu. Ts., et al., Physical Review C, 2004).
- Livermorium is named after the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, which played a crucial role in its discovery and has been involved in numerous other superheavy element discoveries (Source: International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2011).
- The most stable isotope of Livermorium, Livermorium-293, has a half-life of only 53 milliseconds, making it extremely short-lived and challenging to study (Source: Oganessian, Yu. Ts., et al., Physical Review C, 2004).
Experts in the field of nuclear chemistry, such as Dr. Dawn Shaughnessy from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, emphasize the importance of understanding superheavy elements like Livermorium to gain insight into the fundamental forces governing atomic nuclei and potentially discover new elements with longer half-lives and practical applications.
A book discussing superheavy elements, “Superheavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table” by Kit Chapman, looks into the history and challenges of synthesizing superheavy elements, including Livermorium. It describes the journey taken by scientists, such as Yuri Oganessian and Ken Moody, to create these elements and explores the implications of their discoveries for the future of chemistry.
It is crucial to remember that due to its incredibly short half-life and the difficulties in producing it, Livermorium currently has no practical applications, and such claims should be taken with skepticism.
Livermorium (Element 116) is a synthetic superheavy element that was first discovered in 2000 by a team of Russian and American scientists at the JINR in Dubna, Russia. It is an unstable element with no known practical applications, but its study contributes significantly to our understanding of the periodic table and atomic nuclei.
