Researchers all over the world are now shifting their endeavors in researching Einsteinium. It was discovered during a debris test from the first hydrogen bomb in November 1952. Albert Ghiorso, together with his fellow scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, collected and studied the chemical analysis of the collected debris by using drones.
Einsteinium is a synthetic element created through extremely small amounts through a very short life span. It is the 99th element on the Periodic Table of Elements. However, despite its name, scientists who discovered the element denied that it is connected to famed physicist Albert Einstein.
According to Live Science, the results of studying the Einsteinium have not been published until 1955. Peter Van Der Krogt, a Dutch historian, created the said study. Tensions due to Cold War were at its peak when the hydrogen bomb demonstration was conducted.
However, because of the nature of Einsteinium, the Los Alamos National Laboratory worked in exploring the said element away from the public eye. Since it is very unstable, the element only has 20.47 days of half life. Moreover, it is the seventh synthetic Actinide Transuranium element.
The Latin Post identified that Einsteinium has 99 protons and 153 Neutrons in its Nucleus. Thus, it has an atomic number of 99. Einsteinium, with the atomic symbol ‘Es’, has no natural isotopes. It also turns solid at room temperature and melts at 860° C, though scientists are still to determine its exact boiling point. Since it is soft and silvery, Einsteinium is radioactive but does not impose any health threat. It radiates a blue color in the dark because of energy emission and radioactive decay. It could be attacked by Oxygen, steam, and acids but not Alkali metals like Lithium(Li), Sodium(Na), Potassium(k), Rubidium(Rb), Caesium(Cs), and Francium(Fr). Before it was called ‘Einsteinium,’ the element was first called ‘Athenium’ after the capital of Greece, ‘Athens’. Aside from laboratory research, it has no known daily life application,RSC said.
