Re:Physicists may now have a way to make element 120
by adrian_b on Wednesday July 24, 2024 @04:38PM
(#41061774)
The next magic numbers after 82 are not known with certainty.
Nevertheless, it was usually supposed that 126 is the next magic number for protons, in which case it has not been reached yet. Other possible values, from more recent computations, are 122 and 124, also not reached yet.
Moreover, the isotopes that are the most stable for the already synthesized elements are expected to have more neutrons than in the isotopes that have been successfully produced. So it is not impossible that an "island of stability" might have already been reached, but only with isotopes that have so few neutrons that they remain outside the zone of stability.
Nevertheless, it was usually supposed that 126 is the next magic number for protons, in which case it has not been reached yet. Other possible values, from more recent computations, are 122 and 124, also not reached yet.
Moreover, the isotopes that are the most stable for the already synthesized elements are expected to have more neutrons than in the isotopes that have been successfully produced. So it is not impossible that an "island of stability" might have already been reached, but only with isotopes that have so few neutrons that they remain outside the zone of stability.