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Einsteinium

Einsteinium

1 9.9
A radioactive chemical element made in nuclear reactions
  • noun
  • /ˌaɪnˈstaɪniəm/
  • Specialized
: einsteinio
  • In the latest chemistry lesson, we learned that einsteinium is part of the actinide series on the periodic table.

Examples

  • The scientist was excited to discover einsteinium, a radioactive element with atomic number 99.

  • During their experiment, the researchers successfully synthesized einsteinium by bombarding plutonium with neutrons.

  • I don't know how Albert would have felt about this, but the element was named einsteinium in his honor.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

atomic number 99
vsEinsteinium
  • Specialized
9.9

A radioactive metal called einsteinium with atomic number 99 made by hitting plutonium atoms with neutrons

is the common element name rather than a numerical identification
Es
vsEinsteinium
  • Specialized
9.9

A very rare radioactive metal made in labs by nuclear reactions

names the actual radioactive substance rather than the short written sign

Surface Forms

Einsteinium singular
Einsteinium plural

Morphology

Einsteinium = Einstein (semi-transparent) = Einstein + ium

The formation Einstein + -ium clearly marks an element named after Einstein, so the word's status as a chemical element is guessable, but specific properties (radioactivity, transuranic nature) are not inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Einsteinium was named to 'honor' the famous scientist Einstein, and the ending -ium is the usual sign of an 'element' or 'metal' name. So Einsteinium is the name for a chemical element called Es, a rare radioactive metal used mainly in scientific research.