Lise Meitner explained nuclear fission — a discovery that changed the world. But the Nobel Prize went only to her colleague Otto Hahn. Decades later, justice was partially restored: element 109 was named in her honor. It's the second element named after a female scientist (the first being curium, after Marie Curie). Meitnerium lives only seconds. In theory, it's a noble metal related to iridium, but verifying this is nearly impossible.
Lise Meitner was the physicist who first understood that a uranium nucleus could split in two. She explained the process of nuclear fission in 1939, but the Nobel Prize went only to her colleague Otto Hahn. It remains one of the most famous injustices in science history.
Meitnerium remains one of the least studied elements. No chemical experiments have been performed — its half-life is too short. Theoretically, it should behave like iridium.
Meitnerium is extremely radioactive and exists only seconds. It's synthesized a few atoms at a time in specialized accelerators. It poses no practical threat.
Lise Meitner explained nuclear fission and even coined the term, but the Nobel Prize went only to her colleague Otto Hahn. The element naming became a belated recognition of her work.
The most stable isotope Mt-278 lives just 8 seconds. This makes meitnerium one of the least studied elements — even by superheavy standards.
Meitnerium is the second element named after a female scientist. The first was curium (Cm, 96), after Marie and Pierre Curie.
Lise Meitner was forced to flee Nazi Germany in 1938 due to her Jewish heritage. Just months later, she explained nuclear fission — a discovery that changed the world.
Einstein called Meitner 'our Marie Curie.' She was nominated for the Nobel Prize 49 times but never received it. Element 109 is at least partial justice.
| Isotope | Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-life | Decay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
268Mt☢ | 268.138730 | synthetic | 21 ms | α |
276Mt☢ | 276.151590 | synthetic | 0.72 seconds | α |
Linear accelerator bombardment of bismuth