Page 32 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

Mendelevium (Md)
Element 101.An artificial and radioactive chemical element in the actinide series in the Periodic Table.
Discovery
It was discovered by Albert Ghiorso, Bernard G. Harvey, Gregory R. Choppin, Stanley G.Thompson,and GlennT. Seaborg at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1955 when helium ions
were bombarded at a tiny amount of einsteinium-253. Mendelevium was the first element to be made one atom at a time. Mendelevium-258 (the most stable isotope) has a half-life of about 54 days. It was the ninth transuranium element
of the actinide series to be discovered.
Technology
Because it has only been produced in such small quantities, so far it has no uses.
Geology
Because it is artificial, it is not found in the environment.
Biology
It is not found in living things; but if it were ever produced in substantial quantities, it could be harmful because it is radioactive.
Key facts...
Name: mendelevium
Symbol: Md
Atomic number: 101
Atomic weight: 258
Position in Periodic Table: inner transition
metal; period 7 (actinide series)
State at room temperature: solid
Colour: unknown
Density: n/a
Melting point: n/a
Boiling point: n/a
Origin of name: named after Dmitri Mendeleev,
the Russian chemist who was primarily
responsible for the Periodic Table
Shell pattern of electrons: 2–8–18–32–31–8–2
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