What is Fermium

Fermium (pronounced as FER-mee-em) ^[2] is a synthetic, transuranium, radioactive element ^[3] with the symbol Fm [1] belonging to the family of inner transition metals ^[10]. It has 18 isotopes with mass numbers ranging from 242 to 259 of which Fm-257 is the most stable isotope with a half-life of 100.5 days ^{[2, 3]}. It decays into californium-253 through alpha emission and spontaneous fission ^[2].

Where Is it Found

It cannot be found naturally on earth ^[3]. However, it can be obtained in microgram quantities by the neutron bombardment of plutonium in a nuclear reactor ^[1].

History of the Element

Origin of the Name: The element is named after the famous nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi ^[1].

Who Discovered it: It was discovered by a team of scientists led by Albert Ghiorso on October 31, 1952 ^{[2, 3]}.

How was it Discovered

The first isotope of fermium (later named as fermium-255), was found in the nuclear debris after the thermonuclear explosion of the first hydrogen bomb (codenamed Ivy Mike ^{[3, 10]}) on an atoll in the Pacific Ocean ^[1]. It was because uranium-238, the source of heat for the detonation, was exposed to a flux of neutrons during the process and combined with 17 of them to produce Fm-255 that has a half-life of about 20 hours ^{[1, 2]}.

It was later produced in the laboratory by a group at the Nobel Institute of Stockholm. They bombarded uranium-238 with oxygen nuclei producing fermium-250 with a half-life of 30 minutes ^[1].

Fermium Identification
Atomic Number	100 [2]
CAS Number	7440-72-4 [1]
Position in the periodic table	Group: Actinides[1]	Period: 7 [1]	Block: f [1]

Properties and Characteristics of Fermium

General Properties
Atomic mass	257 atomic mass units [8,9]
Mass number	257 [5]
Physical Properties
Color/appearance	Unknown [3,7]
Luster	Unknown [16]
Texture	Unknown [14]
Melting point/freezing point	1527°C (2781°F) [1]
Boiling point	Unknown [1]
Density	Unknown [1]
State of matter at room temperature (natural state)	Solid [1,2]
Hardness	Unknown [12, 15]
Chemical Properties
Flammability		Unknown
Oxidation state/Oxidation number		+2, +3 [1]
Reactivity		Unknown [13]

Atomic Data of Fermium (Element 100)

Uses of Fermium

Due to its minute production and short half-life, it is used for research purposes only ^[2].

Health Hazards

It is potentially dangerous due to its radioactivity ^[1].

Interesting Facts

• Fermium, along with Einsteinium, was one of the first synthetic elements produced after the testing of a hydrogen bomb ^{[10, 15]}.
• As the hydrogen bomb testing was top secret, researchers could only publish the discovery of Fm in 1955 after producing it officially in a laboratory ^{[1, 3, 10]}.

Cost of Fermium

Unavailable since it is not found naturally and only produced in nuclear reactors ^[3].

References
1. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/100/fermium
2. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele100.html
3. https://www.chemicool.com/elements/fermium.html
4. http://chemistry-reference.com/q_elements.asp?Symbol=Fm&language=en
5. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. https://www.nuclear-power.net/fermium-affinity-electronegativity-ionization/
7. http://www.elementalmatter.info/element-fermium.htm
8. http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/fm.html
9. http://hobart.k12.in.us/ksms/PeriodicTable/fermium.htm
10. https://study.com/academy/lesson/fermium-element-properties-uses-facts.html
11. Lenntech.com
12. http://periodictable.com/Elements/100/data.html
13. https://www.webelements.com/fermium/chemistry.html
14. http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_texture_of_fermium
15. https://www.schoolmykids.com/learn/interactive-periodic-table/Fm-Fermium/
16. http://www.answers.com/Q/Is_the_element_fermium_luster
17. http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2015/ph241/singh-a1/