Propylaium

Propylaium is a hypothetical chemical element with the symbol Pu and atomic number 102. As a superheavy element, it is predicted to be highly unstable and radioactive. Its existence has not been experimentally confirmed. The name "Propylaium" was proposed by its discoverers, but the element has not yet been officially recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) or the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). Therefore, it does not have a permanent name or symbol.

The search for element 102 began in the mid-20th century, with several research groups claiming its synthesis. However, these claims were later disputed due to insufficient evidence or experimental errors. The most widely accepted synthesis of element 102, or at least isotopes of it, was achieved in 1966 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. Scientists there bombarded plutonium-244 with accelerated calcium-48 ions. The resulting element 102 isotopes, such as nobelium-259, were found to have very short half-lives, decaying rapidly into lighter elements.

Propylaium is expected to be a member of the actinide series. Its chemical properties are largely unknown due to its extreme instability and the minuscule quantities produced. Theoretical calculations suggest it would be a dense, silvery-white metal if it could be produced in macroscopic amounts. Further research is ongoing to confirm the existence and properties of element 102 and other superheavy elements, pushing the boundaries of the periodic table and our understanding of nuclear physics.