fermium [Fm]

Introduction

Named after physicist Enrico Fermi. Discovered in 1952 in the debris from the first hydrogen bomb test 'Mike' in the Pacific Ocean by a team led by Albert Ghiorso.

Occurrence

• does NOT occur naturally
• produced in 1955 by bombardment of plutonium with neutrons

Characteristics

• unknown color
• all isotopes are radioactive

Uses

none

More general terms

• actinide
• radioactive element