Chapter 8-From Physics to Biology
By: Grayce Helton
Synopsis of Chapter 8
Chapter 8, From Physics to Biology, deals mostly with the fact that scientists and scholars all throughout time struggled to prove their theories and discover new elements correctly and truthfully. They have failed many times, but not giving up later succeeded or help someone else discover them. Some even discovered certain unknown elements without trying to do so. It took many tries to discover element 43, 93, and 15. Many elements were said to be discovered for the "first time" before they truly were discovered. Technetium was one of those elements. "No element has been discovered for the "first time" more times than element 43. It's the Loch Ness Monster of the elemental world" (Chapter 8, pg. 138). This chapter is mostly focused on Emilio Segre and Linus Pauling. How they both went through many struggles but became great scientists.
Technetium
Technetium was the first man made element, it's name meaning "artificial" in Greek. It is a transition metal. It was discovered by Emilio Gino Segre and Carlo Perrier. It is found in period 7, group 5 on the periodic table. It has an atomic number 43 and a mass of 98.907 u. Technetium has never been found on Earthand was first made by bombarding Molybdenum with deuterons. Technetium is used as a radiation source for medical research. It's electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d5 5s2.
Neptunium
Neptunium is named after the planet Neptune and was discovered in 1940 by Edwin McMillan and Philip Abelson. It's atomic number is 93 and it has a mass of 237.048 u. It is in period 7 and it's group is Actinides. It's electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 5f4 6s2 6p6 6d1 7s2. Neptunium is used in Neutron detection instruments and is made by bombarding Uranium with slow neurons. It could also be found in extremely small quantities of Uranium ores.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus was discovered by Henning Brand in 1669. It atomic number is 15 and has a mass of 30. 974 u. It was name after the Greek terms "Phos" meaning "light" and "Phoros" meaning bearer. It's in period 3 group 15 and is a non-metal. It;s electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3. It is used in the production of matches, toothpaste, pesticides, detergents, fertilizers, and fireworks. It is most commonly found in phosphate rock, primarily being mined in USA, Morocco, Tunisia, Nauru, Russia, and Tongo.
Importance
All of these elements are important. They all are useful for something that helps us. Neptunium is used for neuron detection instruments. Technetium helps us with medical research. Without Phosphorus we wouldn't have things like toothpaste or matches that make our lives easier. The more we know about these elements and the others helps us learn more about science in general. If people didn't care about the elements, we wouldn't have a lot of the things that we have today. Everything is able to be used to further our possibilities and expand our knowledge.