transplutoniums

Transplutoniums are a group of chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than 92, meaning they are all heavier than uranium. These elements are not found naturally on Earth and must be synthesized in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. They are all radioactive and generally have very short half-lives, making them difficult to study and utilize. The transplutonium elements begin with americium (atomic number 95) and continue up to oganesson (atomic number 118) in the periodic table.

The creation of transplutonium elements typically involves bombarding heavy target elements, such as plutonium or curium, with neutrons or other atomic nuclei. This process can lead to the formation of new, heavier isotopes. Due to their instability and scarcity, transplutonium elements have limited practical applications. Some isotopes, like americium-241, have found use in smoke detectors and as neutron sources. Others are primarily of scientific interest, helping researchers understand nuclear structure and the limits of the periodic table. The synthesis and study of these elements are important for advancing nuclear physics and chemistry.