Promethium nuclear properties

Table 2.15 Nuclear properties for promethium-samarium decay chains...

Lanthanide elements have atomic numbers ranging from 57 to 71. With the inclusion of scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y), a total of 17 elements are referred to as the rare earth elements. A mixture of rare earths was discovered in 1794 by J. Gadolin and ytterbium was separated from this mixture in 1878 by Mariganac, while the last rare earth element promethium (Pm) was separated by a nuclear reaction in 1974. Therefore, a period of more than 100 years separates the discovery of all the rare earth elements. In the latter part of the last century scientists started to focus on the applications of rare earth elements. Numerous interesting and important properties were found with respect to their magnetic, optical, and electronic behavior. This is the reason that many countries list all rare earth elements, except promethium (Pm), as strategic materials. Rare earth coordination chemistry, therefore, developed quickly as a result of this increased activity. 

The symbols At and Fr were permanently installed in boxes 85 and 87 of the periodic table and their properties proved to be exactly the same as predicted from the table. But in comparison with their unstable mates born by nuclear physics, technetium and promethium, their position is clearly unfavourable. 

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