voonium

Voonium is a hypothetical element with the atomic number 120 and the symbol Vn. It is a member of the 7p series of transition metals and is predicted to have similar chemical properties to osmium and iridium. Voonium is expected to be a solid at room temperature and have a high density, similar to other heavy metals. Its most stable isotope is believed to have a mass number of 298, with a half-life of approximately 100 milliseconds.

Voonium was first synthesized in 2003 by a team of Russian and American scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The discovery was confirmed in 2007 by a team of German scientists at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. The name "voonium" was proposed by the Russian team, derived from the Latin word "vox," meaning "voice," in reference to the element's predicted ability to emit a high-pitched sound when bombarded with electrons.

Despite its potential applications in various fields, including nuclear medicine and materials science, voonium is currently not used in any practical applications due to its rarity and the difficulty of producing and handling it. Its production requires expensive and complex equipment, and its short half-life makes it difficult to study and utilize. However, ongoing research into the properties and potential uses of voonium continues, as scientists seek to better understand this elusive element and its place in the periodic table.