Rutherfordium
Rutherfordium is a chemical element with symbol Rf and atomic number 104, named in honor of physicist Ernest Rutherford. It is a synthetic element (an element that can be created in a laboratory but is not found in nature) and radioactive; the most stable known isotope, 267Rf, has a half-life of approximately 1.3 hours. In the periodic table of the elements, it is a d - block element and the second of the fourth - row transition elements.
Quick Facts
Transition metals are elements with partially filled d-orbitals. They are hard, have high melting points, and often form colored compounds.
History
Physical Properties
Rutherfordium melts at 2400 K and boils at 5800 K.
Atomic Properties
Photograph
External Resources
Study Guide
Atomic Number
The number of protons in the nucleus, which defines the element.
Atomic Mass
The average mass of an atom, including protons and neutrons.
Electronegativity
A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a bond.
Ionization Energy
The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.
Electron Config
The arrangement of electrons in the atom's energy shells.