Scientists Explore Possibility of Dense, Unstable Elements Beyond the Periodic Table
Researchers from the University of Arizona have conducted a study exploring the possibility of naturally occurring, stable elements beyond the periodic table. This comes in response to observations of objects in the Solar System, such as asteroids, that appear to be denser than any known element.
Osmium, the densest naturally occurring element on the periodic table, has a density of 22.59 grams per cubic centimeter. However, asteroids like 33 Polyhymnia have been measured with densities as high as 75.28 grams per cubic centimeter – far beyond what is currently understood.
While elements with atomic numbers higher than 118 have never been observed, theoretical work suggests that there may be an “island of stability” around atomic number 164. These hypothetical superheavy elements would be less prone to radioactive decay and could potentially exist in the universe.
To investigate the plausibility of such elements, physicists Evan LaForge, Will Price, and Johann Rafelski used the Thomas-Fermi model, a simplified model of atomic behavior. Their calculations agreed with the predicted island of stability, showing that the density range of these elements would be between 36 and 68.4 grams per cubic centimeter – close to the density measured for 33 Polyhymnia.
While the extreme density measurement of 33 Polyhymnia is likely an error, the researchers’ work suggests that there may be a physical explanation for such measurements without resorting to strange or dark matter assumptions.
“The purpose of this study was to determine whether compact ultradense objects (CUDOs) with extreme mass density could be achieved without the need for the usually invoked strange or dark matter,” the researchers explained in their paper.
The study not only demonstrates the usefulness of the Thomas-Fermi model for investigating hypothetical superheavy elements but also lays the groundwork for future analyses in this area.
The research, published in The European Physical Journal Plus, opens up new possibilities for understanding the properties of elements beyond the known periodic table and offers a potential explanation for the unusual density measurements of certain objects in the Solar System.