Home/ Elements/ Lv
Livermorium
Lv 116

Livermorium

Livermorium is a synthetic chemical element; it has symbol Lv and atomic number 116. It is named after the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, where American scientists participated in its discovery. It was first synthesized in 2000 at JINR in Dubna, Russia, and recognized as a new element in 2012. Livermorium is extremely radioactive and has no known practical applications outside of scientific research.

Post-transition Metal
Atomic number 116Z
Atomic mass 293u
Valence e⁻ 6
Electron config. 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d10 7p4
Density
12.9g/cm³
Melting point
436°C
Crustal abundance
—
Annual production
—
Recycling rate
0%(Synthetic element (Z=116); no recycling)

Why This Element

Livermorium is the heaviest group 16 element, beyond polonium. Relativistic effects predicted to compress Lv's 7p orbital, making it behave more like a noble gas than a metalloid — favoring neutral Lv⁰ over Lv²⁺. Lv-293 (55 ms) is the most stable.

Applications

Research

Applications in DepthElement & compound uses

Main Uses of the Element

Livermorium is the 116th superheavy element, first synthesized in 2000 by a joint team from JINR in Russia and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US, and named after Livermore, the laboratory's home city. Its isotopes have extremely short half-lives, it does not occur in nature, and only a few atoms are produced per synthesis. It has no industrial uses and is studied only for superheavy-element properties.

Key Compounds and Their Uses

The chemistry of livermorium is extremely little studied and is used only to test the periodic law for superheavy elements. No weighable livermorium compound has ever been isolated, and no practical applications exist.

Element History

First observed in 2000 at JINR Dubna via bombardment of curium-248 with calcium-48 ions — livermorium-292 was identified. Named for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in 2016, recognizing LLNL's role in superheavy element research since the 1950s.

Related Elements

Al · Aluminium Ga · Gallium In · Indium Sn · Tin Tl · Thallium Pb · Lead Bi · Bismuth Po · Polonium

Frequently Asked QuestionsLong-tail Q&A · data-driven

What is the melting point of Livermorium?
436 °C
What is the boiling point of Livermorium?
812 °C
What is the density of Livermorium?
12.9 g/cm³
What are the atomic number and category of Livermorium?
116 · Post-transition Metal
Which ore is Livermorium mainly extracted from?
None (synthetic)
What are the main uses of Livermorium?
Livermorium is the heaviest group 16 element, beyond polonium. Relativistic effects predicted to compress Lv's 7p orbital, making it behave more like a noble gas than a metalloid — favoring neutral Lv⁰ over Lv²⁺. Lv-293
Who discovered Livermorium and when?
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research · 2000