Question

During the late 19th and early 20th century, Marie Curie and her husband discovered polonium and radium. Once they started exploring the properties of these metals, they coined the term "radioactivity."

In CER (claim, evidence, reasoning) format:

Tell a story of how you discovered a new fictitious element.
a) I stumbled upon a mysterious substance in my backyard.
b) While experimenting in the lab, I noticed a peculiar reaction.
c) A colleague shared a sample of an unknown material with me.
d) I found an intriguing element in an old family heirloom.
Describe any unique physical and chemical properties of the element.
a) It emitted a beautiful, iridescent glow when exposed to light.
b) The element had an incredibly high melting point and was a good conductor of electricity.
c) It exhibited magnetic properties and was highly reactive with water.
d) The element had a half-life of just a few seconds, making it incredibly unstable.
Give it a name.
a) Radiolux
b) Luminoferium
c) Gleamorium
d) Glitteron
Explain where this element would be located on the periodic table.
a) Group 18 (Noble Gases)
b) Group 13 (Boron Group)
c) Group 1 (Alkali Metals)
d) Group 17 (Halogens)

Answer 1

In a lab-based scenario, the fictional element Gleamorium was discovered due to its distinct glow and conductivity. Sharing similarities with transition metals, it would likely be placed in Group 11 of the periodic table. This reflects the ongoing narrative of discovery following Marie Curie's pioneering research on radioactivity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Imagine that while conducting experiments in the lab, I observed a peculiar reaction that led to the discovery of a new element. This substance, upon exposure to light, emitted an iridescent glow, suggesting unusual electron configurations or energy levels. Under further analysis, the element displayed a remarkably high melting point and was an excellent conductor of electricity—properties signifying strong metallic bonds and free-moving valence electrons, common to transition metals.

Given its striking visual properties and robust physical characteristics, I named this element Gleamorium. Due to its electric conductivity and high melting point, analogous to metals such as iron and copper, Gleamorium would likely be positioned within Group 11 of the periodic table, which contains coinage metals known for their conductivity and malleability.

The discovery of Gleamorium adds depth to our understanding of the periodic table and continues the legacy of scientific exploration sparked by the Curies' work on radioactivity. It's a testament to the evolving narrative of element discovery and the periodic nature of elemental properties.