Rf
Rutherfordium
Atomic number: 104Mass: 267 uCategory: Transition Metal
About Rutherfordium
Rutherfordium is a synthetic element named after physicist Ernest Rutherford. It is a highly radioactive metal that does not occur in nature. It is classified as a transition metal in group 4.
Properties
Period
7
Group
4
Block
D
Category
Transition Metal
Electronegativity
N/A
Ionization Energy
580 kJ/mol
Melting Point
2400 K (2127°C)
Boiling Point
5800 K (5527°C)
Density
23.2 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+4
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶ 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s²
[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s²
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:32e⁻
Shell 5:32e⁻
Shell 6:10e⁻
Shell 7:2e⁻
Real-World Uses
Research only
Scientific studies
Nuclear physics
No practical applications
Fundamental science
Fun Fact
Rutherfordium was at the centre of a naming dispute between the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War — each side claimed to have discovered it first!