bequerellides

Bequerellides are a fictional or speculative class of crystalline materials named after the physicist Henri Becquerel. In speculative fiction and certain theoretical discussions, bequerellides are described as minerals or synthetic compounds that form under intense radioactive conditions and exhibit distinctive radioluminescence. The term is not recognized in real-world mineralogy or chemistry.

Etymology and naming: The name combines Becquerel’s surname with the suffix -lide, a convention in mineral-like terminology that suggests a substance related to crystalline or mineral-like phases.

Concept and properties: Bequerellides are typically portrayed as having variable composition and crystal structure. They are described as luminescent under ionizing radiation, with luminescence properties that may change with radiation exposure. Some fictional accounts attribute catalytic or radiolytic activities to bequerellides, making them of interest in imagined energy, waste-management, or technological scenarios.

Occurrence and formation: In fiction and hypothetical models, bequerellides are said to form in environments with high radioactivity, such as uranium-rich deposits, spent fuel repositories, or alien worlds with elevated natural radiation. Formation mechanisms are speculative and can involve radiation-induced ordering, self-assembly, or radiation-driven crystallization processes.

Classification and status: There is no formal scientific classification or widely accepted definition in real science for bequerellides. They function primarily as narrative devices or thought experiments to explore interactions between radiation and crystalline matter.

See also: Becquerel, radioactivity, radioluminescence, luminescent minerals, science fiction.