Element 113 has finally been found, at least they think
After nine years in the laboratory, Japanese scientists have finally found Element 113, at least they believe they have. Announced earlier on Wednesday, Sept.26, Element 113 has been “founded” before, earlier in 2004 by the same scientists, however the results had insufficient supporting evidence.
Now, this same group of Japanese scientists have finally created Element 113 nick-named Ununtrium meaning one-one-three. According to Business Insider, the team of researchers say they have “unambiguous proof” for the existence of Element 113.
The element cannot be found in the natural earth. Instead, the element had to be synthesized using a giant atom smasher. The elements zinc and bismuth were collided together and changed at a microscopic level creating 113 protons in the nucleus of this new element. This man-made element quickly decayed which can be used to determine the identity of the new element.
The new discovery would be the first time a team of Asian scientists created a new element to add to the periodic table. Although the discovery must be peer reviewed with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry to be official, the team of researchers are already looking towards the future.
As The Paw Print reports, the lead researcher of the experiment, Kosuke Morita, said, “I would like to thank all the researchers and staff involved in this momentous result, who persevered with the belief that one day 113 would be ours. For our next challenge, we look to the uncharted territory of element 119 and beyond.”
