After meticulous planning, a unique experiment at Berkeley Lab successfully synthesized a new molecule, berkelocene, using the radioactive element berkelium. With only 48 hours of usability for the berkelium sample, the research team of 20 scientists employed a glove box to combine berkelium with an organic molecule. Their culminating efforts resulted in a striking dark violet solution, marking a significant moment in chemistry as it challenged existing theories on carbon's interactions with heavy metals. This groundbreaking achievement represents a pivotal advancement in understanding chemical behaviors.
Seeing the picture a few hours after (via an X-ray diffraction spectrometer image), that was sort of the eureka moment. They'd done it.
The solution turned a dark violet—a chemist's version of watching The Wizard of Oz turn from black and white to technicolor for the first time.
The latest experiment with berkelium offered something entirely new as he watched the solution turn a promising dark violet.
A group of researchers focused on creating a brand-new molecule using the ultra-rare radioactive element berkelium within a limited timeframe.
Collection
[
|
...
]