What is the atomic number of Bohrium which is named after physicist Niels Bohr, one of the founders of quantum theory?
107
Understanding the Atomic Number of Bohrium
The question asks about the atomic number of the element Bohrium, an element named in honour of the renowned physicist Niels Bohr, a key figure in the development of quantum theory.
The atomic number of an element is a fundamental property. It is defined as the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that element. The atomic number is unique for each element and determines its position on the periodic table. It is typically represented by the symbol $\text{Z}$.
Identifying Bohrium on the Periodic Table
Bohrium is a synthetic chemical element, meaning it does not occur naturally on Earth and is created in laboratories through nuclear reactions. Its symbol is Bh.
According to the standard periodic table of elements, Bohrium is located in the 7th period and group 7.
Determining Bohrium's Atomic Number
The atomic number corresponds to the element's position in the sequence of elements ordered by increasing number of protons.
Bohrium (Bh) has been assigned the atomic number of 107. This means that every atom of Bohrium has exactly 107 protons in its nucleus.
| Element Name | Symbol | Atomic Number ($\text{Z}$) |
| Bohrium | Bh | 107 |
The naming of Bohrium after Niels Bohr acknowledges his significant contributions to atomic structure theory and quantum mechanics, which are foundational to understanding atoms and elements.
Revision Table: Key Atomic Concepts
| Concept | Definition | Significance |
| Atomic Number ($\text{Z}$) | Number of protons in the nucleus | Defines the element; determines position on the periodic table |
| Mass Number ($\text{A}$) | Total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus | Determines the isotope of an element |
| Element | A pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in their atomic nuclei | Fundamental building block of matter |
Additional Information on Bohrium and Synthetic Elements
Bohrium is a transactinide element. These elements are highly radioactive and decay very quickly, making them difficult to study. Bohrium's most stable known isotope, Bohrium-270, has a half-life of about 61 seconds.
Synthetic elements like Bohrium are typically produced by bombarding a target made of lighter elements with ions of other lighter elements in particle accelerators. The discovery and verification of these heavy elements often involve international collaboration and rigorous analysis of decay chains.
The group of elements from atomic number 104 (Rutherfordium) to 118 (Oganesson) are collectively referred to as transactinides or superheavy elements.
Important Questions from Atomic Structure
In 1893, which Swiss chemist was the first to understand the molecular structures of inorganic substances – chemical compounds that do not contain carbon?
- What is the atomicity of Phosphorus?
Which of the following pairs of 'number – composition' is correct?
I. Atomic number – number of protons
II. Mass number – Sum of number of neutrons and protons
Which are the four quantum numbers for an electron present in 4f orbital?
The quantum numbers n and l for four electrons are given below.
(i) n = 4, I = 1
(ii) n = 4, l = 0
(iii) n = 3, l = 2
(iv) n = 3, l = 1
The order of their energy from lowest to highest is:
