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What is the significance of the element Promethium's name?

Question #149924. Asked by psnz.
Last updated Oct 08 2023.
Originally posted Oct 08 2023 8:04 PM.

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BigTriviaDawg star
Answer has 4 votes
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BigTriviaDawg star
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Answer has 4 votes.

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Promethium is unusual as it has no stable isotopes. While all elements from Polonium and above are radioactive, only promethium and Technetium are radioactive before that. So, promethium was very difficult to isolate leading to its clever name after the mortal who stole fire from the gods.
Promethium was first produced and characterized at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Clinton Laboratories at that time) in 1945 by Jacob A. Marinsky, Lawrence E. Glendenin and Charles D. Coryell by separation and analysis of the fission products of uranium fuel irradiated in the graphite reactor; however, being too busy with military-related research during World War II, they did not announce their discovery until 1947. The original proposed name was "clintonium", after the laboratory where the work was conducted; however, the name "prometheum" was suggested by Grace Mary Coryell, the wife of one of the discoverers.[42] It is derived from Prometheus, the Titan in Greek mythology who stole fire from Mount Olympus and brought it down to humans[42] and symbolizes "both the daring and the possible misuse of the mankind intellect". The spelling was then changed to "promethium", as this was in accordance with most other metals.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promethium

Oct 08 2023, 8:13 PM
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