Fermium (Fm)

Atomic Number100
Atomic Mass257 u
CategoryActinide
Electron Config[Rn] 5f¹² 7s²
Melting Point1800 K
Electronegativity1.3 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy627 kJ/mol
Crystal StructureFace-centered Cubic (predicted)
Discovered ByLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1952)

Brief Introduction

Fermium (Fm) is a radioactive actinide metal. It is one of the heaviest elements that can be produced in significant quantities. Key details about Fermium (Fm) are as follows:

Uses: No practical applications. Used only in scientific research to study nuclear properties and to synthesize heavier elements.

Production/Extraction: Produced by bombarding lighter actinides with neutrons in high-flux nuclear reactors. Only produced in microgram quantities or less.

History: Discovered in 1952 in the debris of the first hydrogen bomb test (Ivy Mike) by Albert Ghiorso and colleagues. Named after Enrico Fermi.

Health Effects & Safety: Highly radioactive. Assumed to be extremely dangerous, though limited data exists due to scarcity. Requires strict containment.

Price/Market: Not commercially available. Produced only for research purposes.

Properties: Radioactive, most stable isotope Fm-257 has half-life of 100.5 days, melting point around 1527°C (estimated).

← Einsteinium (Es) · Mendelevium (Md) →

Periodic Table