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Fermium is a synthetic element in the periodic table with the symbol Fm and atomic number 100. It was first synthesized in 1952 by bombarding a uranium target with alpha particles, and it was named after Enrico Fermi, the Italian physicist who was instrumental in the development of the first nuclear reactor.

Fermium is a member of the actinide series of elements, which are a group of elements in the periodic table that are characterized by their high atomic numbers and the presence of radioactive isotopes. Fermium is one of the heaviest elements in the periodic table and has an atomic mass of 257.

Fermium is a rare element that is not found in nature and can only be produced in small quantities through nuclear reactions. It has a metallic appearance and is highly radioactive, with a half-life of only a few days. Fermium is also highly toxic, and it is handled with great caution in laboratories due to its radioactivity.

One of the most interesting properties of fermium is its ability to undergo nuclear fission, which is the process by which a nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei. Nuclear fission is used to generate energy in nuclear power plants and is also used in the production of nuclear weapons. Fermium has a very high fission cross section, which means that it is very likely to undergo fission when it is struck by a neutron.

Fermium has a number of isotopes, which are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus. Some of the isotopes of fermium are stable, while others are radioactive and have a short half-life. The most stable isotope of fermium is fermium-257, which has a half-life of about 100 years.

Fermium has a number of uses in scientific research, including its use in the study of the properties of superheavy elements. It has also been used in the development of new materials and in the study of nuclear reactions. However, due to its rarity and radioactivity, fermium is not widely used in practical applications.

Now that you have learned about fermium, test your knowledge with the following quiz:

1. What is the symbol for fermium on the periodic table? a) Fm b) Fr c) Fe d) Fc
2. What group of elements is fermium a member of on the periodic table? a) Alkali metals b) Alkaline earth metals c) Transition metals d) Actinides
3. How is fermium produced? a) Naturally in the earth’s crust b) Through the electrolysis of a salt c) By bombarding a target with alpha particles d) By combining two other elements
4. What is the most stable isotope of fermium? a) Fermium-255 b) Fermium-256 c) Fermium-257 d) Fermium-258
5. What is one use of fermium in scientific research? a) The study of superheavy elements b) The development of new materials c) The study of nuclear reactions d) All of the above

Answers:

1. a) Fm
2. d) Actinides
3. c) By bombarding a target with alpha particles
4. c) Fermium-257
5. d) All of the above