SCIENCE JOURNAL 2018

Data Analysis Graph 3: Transformed Data- Comparison of Atomic Mass and Stability of New Synthesized Elements

the decrease in stability as elements get heavier (Stewart, 2018). Therefore, as stable isotopes will not decay into other elements, the stability of an element is determined upon its abundance of stable isotopes. This concludes that as the element’s size increases, so does its reactivity as the stability decreases.

Graph 1: Stability of Radioactive Isotopes

(Royal Society of Chemistry , 2017; Compound Interest, 2016)

In graph 1, it is seen that as the number of protons and neutrons within an atom are increased, the half-life of the element decreases (National Nuclear Data Center, 2016). This is shown by the black colour, signifying stable isotopes, and the red colour, symbolizing 350 years to 46 billion years, becoming obsolete as the number of protons and neutrons increase. Therefore, this is further proof that as the atomic radius also known as the size of an atom is increased, the higher its reactivity and lower its stability. Additionally, the relationship between the atomic mass and the half-life of the four new elements can be seen in graph 3. This graph definitively shows that as the atomic mass of the elements are increasing, the half-life and therefore the stability of the elements, are decreasing (Royal Society of Chemistry , 2017; Compound Interest, 2016). For example, for an increase in Atomic Mass of 2u from Nihonium to Moscovium, the half-life dropped from 1960 milliseconds to 220 milliseconds, thus defining this relationship.

(National Nuclear Data Center, 2016)

Graph 2: Island of Stability

(Oganessian, 2015)

SC J SI

34

Somerset College Journal of Scientific Issues

Year 10