Rutherfordium

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Rutherfordium,  104Rf
General properties
Name, symbol Rutherfordium, Rf
Rutherfordium in the periodic table
Hf

Rf

Upo
Lawrencium ← Rutherfordium → Dubnium
Atomic number 104
Standard atomic weight (Ar) 267
Group, block 4; d-block
Period period 7
Electron configuration [Rn] 5f14 6d2 7s2
per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 10, 2
Physical properties
Phase Solid (predicted)
Density near r.t. 23.2 g/cm3 (predicted)
Atomic properties
Oxidation states +2, +3, +4 ​(predicted)
energies 1st: 580 kJ/mol
2nd: 1390 kJ/mol (predicted)
3rd: 2300 kJ/mol (predicted)
(more)
Atomic radius calculated: 150 pm
Covalent radius 157 pm (estimated)
Miscellanea
Crystal structure
CAS Registry Number 53850-36-5
History
Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (1964)
Named by after Ernest Rutherford
· references

Rutherfordium (Rf) is a highly radioactive transactinide. It is near to impossible to make or own this element in a hobby laboratory and even most professional laboratories.

Predicted properties

Chemical

Rutherfordium is thought to have similar chemical properties as other group 4 elements.

Physical

Rutherfordium should be a very heavy metal.

Availability & Isolation

Since it has only been produced in minute amounts in advanced nuclear research facilities, any amount of Rf can only be used for a few minutes or hours in limited nuclear research.

Handling

Safety

If one somehow manages to make this, it will quickly decay, releasing a LOT of radiation, and it's decay products will release even more radiation, as well as generating a lot of heat.

Storage

If one manages to somehow acquire this, the sample should be stored in a container with very thick lead walls.

Disposal

Given the minute amounts of rutherfordium produced so far, no disposal is necessary.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads