Nickelatom

Nickelatom is a hypothetical chemical element with the symbol Ni and atomic number 120. It is predicted to be an alkaline earth metal, located in the eighth period of the periodic table, directly below radium. As an extremely heavy element, nickelatom is expected to be highly unstable and radioactive, with a very short half-life. Its existence has not yet been experimentally confirmed.

Theoretical calculations suggest that nickelatom would possess chemical properties similar to other alkaline earth metals, such as calcium and strontium, but with relativistic effects playing a significant role in its electron configuration and reactivity. These effects are predicted to alter its ionization energies and oxidation states compared to lighter congeners. Due to its anticipated extreme instability, the study of nickelatom's chemical properties would be challenging, likely requiring sophisticated theoretical modeling rather than direct experimentation.

The synthesis of superheavy elements like nickelatom is pursued in particle accelerators through the fusion of lighter nuclei. However, the production of elements with atomic numbers above 118 is expected to become increasingly difficult, with significantly lower cross-sections and shorter half-lives. The discovery of nickelatom would further test the limits of nuclear stability and our understanding of the periodic table.