Ninovium
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Ninovium was a synthetic element that was purportedly discovered in 1999 by Victor Ninov and his team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Initially claimed as element 118, now oganesson, Ninovium's existence was based on alleged decay chains observed during experiments aimed at synthesizing superheavy elements. However, subsequent investigations revealed discrepancies and fabricated data, leading to the retraction of the claimed discovery and the dismissal of Ninov for scientific misconduct.[1][2]
Etymology[edit]
The word Ninovium originates from Victor Ninov's surname, following with the suffix -ium, which is used indicate an entity that is an element according to the IUPAC rules.
Characteristics[edit]
Ninovium was reported by original observations as a superheavy element. While its exact characteristics remain lost media, theoretical predictions suggest that Ninovium would likely possess a high atomic number, potentially exceeding 118 protons and 184 neutrons in its nucleus.[3] Due to its position in the periodic table, Ninovium would belong to the transactinide series and is expected to exhibit properties similar to other superheavy elements, such as high instability and extremely short half-lives. However, these predictions are based on theoretical models and have not been experimentally confirmed.[1][citation needed]
History[edit]
Discovery[edit]
In 1999, Victor Ninov, along with his team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, reported the creation of element 118 based on observed decay chains. However, subsequent investigations raised doubts about the authenticity of the discovery, as discrepancies and fabricated data were uncovered.
The initial excitement surrounding Ninovium's supposed existence quickly turned into skepticism as independent analyses failed to confirm its presence. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory conducted internal investigations, revealing inconsistencies in the data and casting doubt on the validity of Ninovium as a genuine element.[1][2]
Refutation[edit]
The controversy surrounding Ninovium's discovery led to allegations of scientific misconduct against Victor Ninov, ultimately resulting in his dismissal from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2002.
Despite the initial claims of its discovery, Ninovium's existence as a valid element remains unsubstantiated, and its characteristics remain uncertain.[1][2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Chapman, Kit (10 June 2019). "Victor Ninov and the element that never was". Chemistry World. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "The scientific fraud behind the "discovery" of element 118". Big Think. The Past. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Yarris, Lynn (7 June 1999). "New Superheavy Elements 116 and 118 Discovered at Berkeley Lab". enews.lbl.gov. Retrieved 5 May 2024.