The hunt is on

By Kit Chapman and Kristy Turner2018-02-13T12:15:00

Submerged nuclear reactor with blue glow

Source: Genevieve Martin / Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Japanese element hunters are trying to extend the periodic table

Rival teams around the world are racing to discover element 119. A Japanese team are forerunners given their recent discovery of element 113. Nowadays, elements are discovered by smashing smaller elements together at high speeds. International collaboration and competition define this process, which could end up producing stable, super-heavy elements in the predicted ‘island of stability’.

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
applications for funding to support your lessons

Set up your Teach Chemistry account

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.