Rutherfordium
Rutherfordium (𬬻, symbol Rf) is chemical element number 104, a Transition Metal in period 7, group 4 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 267. First transactinide. Named for Ernest Rutherford.
Properties
| Atomic number | 104 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Rf |
| Atomic mass | 267 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 7 |
| Group | 4 |
| Electron configuration | [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s² |
| Electronegativity | — |
| Covalent radius | — |
| Density | 23.2 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 2400 K |
| Boiling point | 5800 K |
| Discovery | JINR / LBNL, 1964 |
Overview
First transactinide. Named for Ernest Rutherford. Rutherfordium (symbol Rf) is chemical element number 104, sitting in period 7, group 4 of the periodic table and classed as a Transition Metal. As a transition metal it commonly shows several oxidation states, forms coloured compounds, and is widely used in catalysts and alloys.
Its electron configuration is [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s², with 2 electrons in the outer shell. Around 25 °C it is usually a solid (a very high melting point); it melts near 2400 K (2126.9 °C), boils near 5800 K (5526.9 °C), has a density around 23.2 g/cm³.
In industry and daily life it turns up in Research. It is regarded as a high-hazard element, so handle it with appropriate care. It was first described by JINR / LBNL in 1964. The periodic trends guide explains the underlying patterns.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 32 · 10 · 2
Main uses
- Research
Hazard
Compounds containing Rutherfordium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Rutherfordium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.