Fermium

Fermium is a Block F, Group 3, Period 7 element. The number of electrons in each of fermium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 32, 30, 8, 2 and its electron configuration is [Rn] 5f¹² 7s². The fermium atom has a Van der Waals radius of 245 pm. In its elemental form, fermium's CAS number is 7440-72-4. Fermium is a synthetic element that is produced by the bombardment of lighter actinides with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. Fermium was discovered at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1952. It was named after Enrico Fermi, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Rome. Fermi was a Nobel Prize winner whose work lead to the discovery of slow neutrons which then resulted in the discovery of nuclear fission and the production of elements lying beyond those included on the periodic table of 1938. Fermium was the eighth transuranic element of the actinide series to be discovered.

Fermium information, including technical data, safety data and its properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed below. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included.