Seaborgium

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Seaborgium is a synthetic element that is a transition metal. It is predicted to be a silver or grey color in its predicted solid state. It has an atomic weight of 263, and the melting points and boiling points of this element are not yet known. The chemical characteristics of seaborgium are predicted to be similar to that of tungsten, though not much else is known about this element. No commercial uses, or any predicted commercial uses, of seaborgium exist at this time.

Seaborgium does not exist in nature in any type of form. This element can only be synthesized in very minute quantities using specialized equipment and procedures.

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Seaborgium has been synthesized only a few times in its brief history. The isotopes of this element decay rapidly once they are synthesized, and so chemical studies and research on this element are not possible at this time. Seaborgium has been produced using two different methods. The first process was conducted using the element californium and oxygen. In this procedure, the isotope 249 of californium was fused with oxygen; this synthesis took place in a nuclear reactor. The products yielded an isotope, number 106, of seaborgium and 4 neutrons. The second isolation process involved bombarding neon atoms with an isotope, number 248, of californium. The reaction produced an isotope, number 266, of seaborgium and 4 neutrons. While the isotopes of seaborgium that are produced have been isolated, the quantities are so tiny that many of the chemical traits of seaborgium remain unknown. The most stable isotopic form of seaborgium, number 271, has a half life of only 2.4 minutes.