A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

107

Transition Metals

Copernicium

Cn

112

State: Solid

Discovery: 1996

112 112 173

The atoms of this radioactive

element survive only for a few

minutes, before breaking down.

Copernicium is created in particle

accelerators by smashing together atoms

of lead and zinc. Only a few atoms of

this artificial element have ever been

produced. Copernicium is named

after Nicolaus Copernicus,

the Polish astronomer who

theorized that our planet

orbits the Sun.

Heavy Ion Research Centre, Germany

Some

scientists

think copernicium

could be the only

gaseous

metal.

This German research institute

is where copernicium was discovered.

This statue stands in

front of the Polish

castle in which

Copernicus lived.

Nic

ola

us

(^) C
op
er nic
us
St
at
ue
(^) of
106-107_Darmstadtium_Roentgenium_Copernicium.indd 107 02/12/16 10:00 pm