The element einsteinium was discovered in the chemicals left over after the first nuclear hydrogen bomb test in 1952. The large explosion fused smaller atoms to form larger ones, including einsteinium. This element is named after Nobel laureate Albert Einstein. In addition, it was discovered to be a silvery, radioactive metal that glows in the dark. It is only used to make heavier elements, such as mendelevium.
Summary of properties (Es)
| Atomic weight | [252] |
| Discoverer (year) | Seaborg, Glenn T. (1952) |
| Natural form | metallic solid (hexagonal) |
| Electron configuration | [Rn] 5f 11 s2 |
| Melting point (ºC) | 860 |
| Boiling point (ºC) | |
| Abundance in earth's crust (ppm) | synthetic |
| Isotope (abundance) | |
| Density g/cm3 | |
| Van der Waals radius (pm) | 245 |
| Covalent radius (pm) | 165 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.3 |
| Vaporization enthalpy (kJ/mol) | 133.00 |
| Enthalpy of fusion (kJ/mol) | - |
| Specific heat capacity (J/g·K) at 25ºC and 1 atm | - |
| Thermal conductivity (W/cm·K) at 25ºC and 1 atm | - |
| Oxidation state | +3 |
| Electron affinity (eV) | |
| 1st Ionization potential (eV) | 6.3676 |
