einsteinium [Es]

Introduction

Named after physicist Albert Einstein. Discovered in 1952 in the debris from the first hydrogen bomb test 'Mike' in the Pacific Ocean by a team led by Albert Ghiorso. 100,000 atoms of an einsteinium isotope were identified.

Occurrence

does NOT occur naturally

Characteristics

• solid of unknown color
• radioactive
  • einsteinium-253 has a 1/2life of 3 weeks

Uses

none

More general terms

• actinide
• radioactive element

Additional terms

• periodic table