Tennessine (Ts)

Tennessine is a synthetic and highly radioactive element located at position 117 in the periodic table. It was discovered in 2010 and named after the U.S. state of Tennessee. Most of its properties are based on observations of the extremely small number of atoms produced to date and theoretical calculations.

Classification and Fundamental Properties

Tennessine (Ts) is an element in period 7 and group 17 (the halogen group) of the periodic table. Its expected electron configuration is [Rn] 5f¹⁴6d¹⁰7s²7p⁵. Although classified as a halogen based on its electronic structure, it is expected to behave significantly differently from other elements in its group (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine) due to its extremely high atomic mass and relativistic effects. Unlike other halogens, tennessine is predicted to be less chemically reactive, exhibit metallic characteristics, and exist as a solid at room temperature. Therefore, it is thought to behave more like a metalloid.

Discovery

Tennessine was first synthesized in 2010 by a team of Russian and American scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia. The discovery team also included scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the United States.

The element was produced by bombarding berkelium-249 (²⁴⁹Bk) targets with calcium-48 (⁴⁸Ca) ions. In these experiments, several atoms of two isotopes of tennessine—²⁹³Ts and ²⁹⁴Ts—were observed. The discovery and naming were officially recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in 2016.

Tennessine (Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)

Etimology

The name tennessine honors the U.S. state of Tennessee, home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Tennessee—all of which made significant contributions to superheavy element research.

Natural Occurrence

Tennessine is a completely synthetic element and does not occur naturally. It can only be produced in minute quantities under laboratory conditions via nuclear reactions in particle accelerators. To date, only a handful of tennessine atoms have been successfully synthesized and observed.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Information on the physical and chemical properties of tennessine is very limited and largely based on theoretical models. It is expected to exist as a dark solid at room temperature. Although its density and melting and boiling points have not yet been determined experimentally, estimates suggest a melting point between 350 and 550 °C and a boiling point around 610 °C.

Chemically, it is predicted to be less reactive than other halogens and to display more pronounced metallic character. Accordingly, it may form stable monatomic cations and exhibit various oxidation states such as −1, +1, +3, and +5. The atomic weight of its longest-lived known isotope, ²⁹⁴Ts, is approximately 294 g/mol.

Isotopes

To date, only two isotopes of tennessine have been synthesized: tennessine-293 (²⁹³Ts) and tennessine-294 (²⁹⁴Ts). Both are extremely unstable.

• ²⁹⁴Ts: Half-life is approximately 78 milliseconds. It decays via alpha emission to moscovium-290 (²⁹⁰Mc).
• ²⁹³Ts: Half-life is approximately 14 milliseconds. It decays via alpha emission to moscovium-289 (²⁸⁹Mc).

Applications

Due to its extremely short half-life, difficulty of production, and the minuscule quantities produced (only a few atoms), tennessine has no practical applications beyond fundamental scientific research. Its synthesis is carried out solely to understand the limits of nuclear physics and chemistry, and to study the structure, stability, and chemical behavior of the heaviest elements in the periodic table.

Biological Role and Safety Precautions

Tennessine has no known biological role. Due to its extreme radioactivity and instability, if sufficient quantities could be produced, it would be highly hazardous and toxic. However, since only a few atoms have ever been synthesized, discussing standard biological effects or special safety measures is practically meaningless. When produced in a laboratory setting, standard safety protocols applicable to all radioactive materials are followed.