Darmstadtium is a synthetic, highly radioactive transactinide element named after Darmstadt, Germany, where it was first produced in 1994. Only a few atoms have ever been made; no bulk properties are known.
Darmstadtium (Ds) is a synthetic transactinide with atomic number 110. It belongs to Group 10 (the Ni–Pd–Pt family) in period 7. It does not occur in nature and is produced atom-by-atom in particle accelerators.
Ds was first synthesized in 1994 at GSI Darmstadt by bombarding a lead target with nickel ions. A classic discovery route is:
\(^{208}\mathrm{Pb}(^{62}\mathrm{Ni},\,n)\,^{269}\mathrm{Ds}\)
The hot compound nucleus emits one neutron \((n)\) to reach the isotope \(^{269}\mathrm{Ds}\), which is then carried rapidly to detectors.
Freshly formed Ds atoms recoil out of the target into a separator and are implanted in position-sensitive detectors. Identification relies on time-correlated decay chains (mostly \(\alpha\) decays and sometimes spontaneous fission) with characteristic energies and lifetimes.
\(^{A}_{110}\mathrm{Ds} \;\xrightarrow{\alpha}\; ^{A-4}_{108}\mathrm{Hs} + \alpha \;\to\; \cdots\)
By analogy with its Group-10 congeners, +2 is expected to be the most accessible state, with possible +4 under strongly oxidizing/halogenating conditions (paralleling Pt(IV)). Direct aqueous chemistry has not been established; most insights come from theory and single-atom gas-phase studies.
A commonly cited ground-state configuration is [Rn] 5f14 6d8 7s2. Relativistic effects in the 6d series may mix levels, so an alternative close-lying arrangement 6d9 7s1 is also discussed in advanced calculations.
Several short-lived isotopes (mass numbers near ~267–281) have been reported. Dominant decay modes are \(\alpha\)-decay and spontaneous fission; half-lives typically range from milliseconds to seconds (occasionally longer), depending on the isotope.
Experiments produce only a few atoms that decay very quickly. That prevents preparing macroscopic samples to measure density, melting point, crystal structure, or color. Current knowledge comes from atom-at-a-time chemistry and theoretical modeling.
By periodic analogy, volatile halides/oxohalides could form under strongly chlorinating or fluorinating conditions (compare PtCl4, PtF6). For Ds, such species would be probed via gas-phase thermochromatography, but definitive compound series remain an active research topic.
Yes. Ds is a radiotoxic heavy element. Although handled in atom-scale amounts, work requires remote manipulation, high-vacuum separators, shielding, HEPA-filtered ventilation, dosimetry, and compliant radioactive-waste procedures in specialized facilities.
Production (stylized):
\(^{208}\mathrm{Pb}(^{62}\mathrm{Ni},\,n)\,^{269}\mathrm{Ds}\)
Generic decay step:
\(^{269}\mathrm{Ds} \;\xrightarrow{\alpha}\; ^{265}\mathrm{Hs} + \alpha\)