Copernicium is a chemical element with symbol Cn and atomic number 112. It is an extremely radioactive synthetic element that can only be created in a laboratory. The most stable known isotope, copernicium-285, has a half-life of approximately 29 seconds, but it is possible that this copernicium isotope may have a nuclear isomer with a longer half-life, 8.9 min.
Three reasons Copernicium stands out
- 1
Named after famous astronomer who developed the heliocentric theory.
- 2
It is predicted to behave more like a noble gas than a metal due to extreme relativistic effects on its electrons.
- 3
Its name honours a scientist who changed how we understand our place in space.
A volatile metal at the edge of expectation
Copernicium is named for Nicolaus Copernicus and occupies the position below mercury. Its electrons move so rapidly that relativistic effects strongly reshape its predicted chemistry. Experiments suggest surprising volatility, fueling debate over how metallic a bulk sample would be—if one could exist.