Unbinilium





Unbinilium, also called eka-radium, is the temporary, systematic element name of an undiscovered chemical element in the periodic table that has the temporary symbol Ubn and has the atomic number 120.

History
In April 2007, the synthesis of element 120 was attempted at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions in Dubna by bombarding a plutonium-244 target with iron-58 ions. Initial analysis revealed that no atoms of element 120 were produced.


 * $$\,^{244}_{94}\mathrm{Pu} + \,^{58}_{26}\mathrm{Fe} \to \,^{302}_{120}\mathrm{Ubn} ^{*} \to \

$$ no atoms

The russian team are planning to upgrade their facilities before having another go in the near future.

In the meantime, the team at GSI are planning to have a go using the reaction:


 * $$\,^{238}_{92}\mathrm{U} + \,^{64}_{28}\mathrm{Ni} \to \,^{302}_{120}\mathrm{Ubn} ^{*} \to \

$$ ?

Stable Unbinilium
The element is of interest because it is part of the hypothesized island of stability, with isotope 318 being the most stable of those that can be created by current methods. Using the spherical model of shell formation, element 120 would be the heaviest element in an island of stability, and also, along with 114, the most spherical. (Patra et al. Journal of Physics 2000)

Reactivity
Unbinilium would be highly reactive as this element is a member of Alkaline earth metals. It would be much more reactive than any other lighter elements of this group. This element would react violently in air to form unbinilium oxide and in water to form unbinilium hydroxide, which would be a strong base.