Promethium (Pm)
Joanna Mantsevich
Atomic Structure
Atomic Number: 61
Mass Number: 145
Protons: 61
Neutrons: 84
Electrons: 61
Physical Properties
Atomic Mass: 145
Atomic Radius in picometers (pm): 205pm
Density: 7.264 g/cc
Melting Point: 1100°C (2010°F)
Boiling Point: 3000°C (5430°F)
At room temperature (22°C), this element is a: Solid
Appearance: Metallic
Conductivity: Thermal: 17.9 W m-1 K-1 Electrical: 2 x 106 S m-1
Malleability: It is malleable.
Hardness: N/A
Other physical properties: Radioactive, Rare Earth
Chemical Properties
Flammability: N/A
Reactivity: Highly; Radioactive
Where in the universe?
Isotopes
Promethium has 38 isotopes with half-lives that are known with masses from 130 to 158. Its longest lived isotope is promethium-145 which lived for 17.7 years.
Compounds
Promethium and oxygen can combine together to make Pm2O3 which is the most common form of Promethium.Promethium and chloride can combine to make PmCl3.
Discovery and Naming
Promethiums existence was first predicted by Bohuslav Brauner in 1902. Chemist B. Smith Hopkins claimed that the element had been found in rare-earth residues and named it illinium, but around the same time, Luigi Rolla and Rita Brunetti also claimed to have discovered it they chose the name florentium for it. Jacob A. Marinsky, Lawrence E. Glendenin and Charles D. Coryell produced firm evidence in 1945 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. They named it Promethium.
What can it be used for?
Portable X-ray Source
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Nuclear Powered Battery
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Research
Fun Facts
From Prometheus to Promethium
Glow-in-the-dark
Space Science
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Oldest but Young Isotope
Fathers of Promethium
Where on the Table
Promethium is the 61st element but is located on the bottom section of the periodic table in the Lanthanide series of elements. First row, 5th element over.
Sources
Element Card: Gray, Theodore W. (2008). The Photographic Card Deck of the Elements.
Elements Book: Gray, Theodore W. (2009). The Elements: A visual exploration of every known atom in the universe. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.
Jefferson Lab: http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele061.html
Lenntech: http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/pm.htm
Chemistry Explained: http://www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/P-T/Promethium.html