Fermium By Samantha, Emily, and Sarah

1. Fermium By Samantha, Emily, and Sarah

2. Basic Information about the Element: Atomic Number: 100 Atomic Mass: 257.0 amu Number of Protons/Electrons: 100 Number of Neutrons: 157

3. Atomic Structure Number of Energy Levels: 7 First Energy Level: 2 Second Energy Level: 8 Third Energy Level: 18 Fourth Energy Level: 32 Fifth Energy Level: 30 Sixth Energy Level: 8 Seventh Energy Level: 2 Electron Configuration: 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d104f145s25p65d105f126s26p67s2

4. History of Fermium Fermium is the eighth discovered transuranium element of the actinide series. This element was identified by Albert Ghiorso and co-workers in 1952 in the debris from a thermonuclear explosion in the Pacific during work involving the University of California Radiation Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

5. Properties of Fermium The physical properties of fermium are largely unknown. So far, there is not enough fermium to analyze its chemical properties, but it’s chemical properties are believed to be similar to those of the other members of the actinide series. Some predictions about its chemical properties are: it would be a silvery metal susceptible to attack by air, steam and acids.

6. Sources of Fermium Fermium has never been discovered in the Earth's crust and is not thought to be present there. Fermium is prepared artificially in particle accelerators by bombarding heavy transuranium elements, such as californium, with alpha particles.

7. Uses of Fermium Fermium exists in such small amounts that it has no practical uses.

8. Bibliography "Fermium." Book Rags. 13 Jan. 2007 <http://www.bookrags.com/Fermium>. Bentor, Yinon. “Fermium.” Chemical Element.com. Jan. 13, 2007 <http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/fm.html>.