Unbihexium

-| Unbihexium (pronEng|ˌʌnbɪˈhɛksiəm) is an unknown chemical element with atomic number 126 and symbol Ubh. It is of interest because it is in the hypothesized island of stability.

History

The first attempt to synthesize element 126 was performed in 1971 by Bimbot "et al." using the hot fusion reaction:

:$,^\{232\}\_\{90\}mathrm\{Th\}\; +\; ,^\{84\}\_\{36\}mathrm\{Kr\}\; o\; ,^\{316\}\_\{126\}mathrm\{Ubh\}\; ^\{*\}\; o\; no\; atoms$

A high energy alpha particle was observed and taken as possible evidence for the synthesis of element 126. Recent research suggests that this is highly unlikely as the sensitivity of experiments performed in 1971 would have been several orders of magnitude too low according to current understanding.

Stable Unbihexium

Calculations according to the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov Method using the non-relativistic Skyrme interaction have proposed Z=126 as a closed proton shell. In this region of the periodic table, N=184 and N=196 have been suggested as closed neutron shells. Therefore the isotopes of most interest are ³¹⁰126 and ³²²126.

Predicted Chemistry

Element 126 is predicted to belong to a new block of valence g-electron atoms. The expected electron configuration is [Uuo] 5g⁶ 8s² although there may be a smearing out of the energies of 5g and 7d orbitals.

Recent calculations have indicated a stable monofluoride may exist, UbhF resulting from a bonding interation between the 5g orbital on Ubh and the 2p orbital on fluorine. [cite journal
last=Jacoby | first=Mitch
title=As-yet-unsynthesized superheavy atom should form a stable diatomic molecule with fluorine
journal=Chemical & Engineering News
year=2006 | volume=84 | issue=10 | pages=19
url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/84/i10/8410notw9.html
accessdate=2008-01-14 ]

Unbihexium in Popular Culture

An "Action Comics" story by John Byrne established the fictional Kryptonite as element 126 on the periodic table of the elements.

The science fiction short story [http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=1959 "Silence is Golden"] by American science fiction author Lou Antonelli is based on the supposed discovery of Element 126 in a Texas open-pit mine. The story, published by Revolution Science Fiction in August 2003, received an Honorable Mention in "The Year's Best Science Fiction, 21st annual collection" (St. Martin's Press, New York, N.Y. Gardner Dozois, ed. 2004).

See also

* Island of stability : Ununquadium – Unbinilium – Unbihexium
* Unbipentium – Unbiseptium

References

External links

* [http://www.apsidium.com/elements/126.htm Likely properties of Unbihexium]