A superheavy element found by Lawrence Livermore lab scientists is close to receiving a name and officially being added to the periodic table, according to DailyDigestNews.com
Element 117 was discovered in 2010 by Livermore researchers. The element will be placed in the zone past element 104.
The element might be the heaviest atom ever discovered, according to Germany's GSI (Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research).
It is believed to be 40 percent heavier than lead.
Researchers only started creating it, despite the fact that it's been theorized for almost three years, according to Daily Digest News.
Scientists had to take the relatively rare berkelium and then bombarded it with calcium ions until it formed element 117.
It then decayed into elements 115 and 113, confirming that their tests were a success.
Now it's up to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry to make the confirmation, according to Daily Digest News.
Once a decision is made that no further testing is needed, the IUPAC will then have to decide what institutions will be allowed to name element 117.
All elements found above the atomic number 104 have very short lives.
Research will appear in a new upcoming issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.
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