Nicolaus Copernicus turned our understanding of the Universe upside down by putting the Sun at the center. The element named after him defies expectations too. Copernicium is mercury's cousin in group 12, but behaves completely differently. Relativistic effects are so strong that it may be an inert gas instead of a liquid metal. Adsorption experiments on gold confirmed it: copernicium is indeed far more inert and volatile than mercury. It's one of the most fascinating superheavy elements for chemists.
Copernicium was discovered at GSI in 1996 by bombarding lead with zinc ions. This element is one of superheavy chemistry's greatest puzzles. By its table position, it should resemble mercury, but theory predicts it may be a volatile gas.
Single-atom experiments showed copernicium is indeed more volatile than mercury. It may not even form metallic bonds — the relativistic closure of the 7s orbital makes it resemble a noble gas.
Copernicium is extremely radioactive and exists only seconds. It's synthesized a few atoms at a time. It poses no practical threat — available only in specialized labs.
Copernicium may be an inert gas at room temperature — even though its cousin mercury is a liquid metal. Relativistic effects completely change the rules of the game.
Nicolaus Copernicus wasn't just an astronomer — he was a physician, lawyer, translator, and economist. His Solar System model changed science forever.
Between 2007-2010, scientists adsorbed individual copernicium atoms on gold surfaces. Result: it's far more inert than mercury. A revolutionary confirmation of relativistic theories.
Nicolaus Copernicus shattered humanity's view of the universe by placing the Sun at the center. Element 112 continues that tradition — it shatters chemists' ideas about how metals should behave.
Mercury is the only liquid metal at room temperature. Copernicium, its analog, may be even stranger — possibly a gas. This would make it the first 'gaseous metal' in the periodic table.
| Isotope | Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-life | Decay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
283Cn☢ | 283.173270 | synthetic | 4 seconds | α/SF |
285Cn☢ | 285.177120 | synthetic | 29 seconds | α |
Linear accelerator bombardment of lead