A chemistry student claims to have isolated a new element. The student states that the new element has propert

Question

A chemistry student claims to have isolated a new element. The student states that the new element has properties similar to fluorine and chlorine, and he argues that it should be placed between fluorine and chlorine in the periodic table. Could the student have discovered a new element?

An atom contains 74 protons, 74 electrons, and 108 neutrons. Which element is it?

Answer 1

I highly doubt that. The perodic table was designed in a way that would incorporate repeating patterns that determine the placement and order of the elements. If there is a new element, it should not be placed between any two elments, for it would disturb the pattern. Tungsten has 74 protons and electrons and 109 neutrons. Is that what you were asking for?

Answer 2

Ok, first of all the easy question. The element with 74 electrons and protons is Tungsten (the symbol is W from the latin name wolframium). The only really interesting thing about it is that it has the highest melting point of any metal and is used to make the filaments in ligthbulbs.
As for the student finding a new element- thats impossible, all naturally occuring elements have been discovered and the periodic table has been filled, so there is no space for new elements within the table, because elements cant have have electrons or protons. If they have 1 of each, the element must be Hydrogen, if they have two of each, the elemet must Helium, and so on... So there is no space for a new element between fluorine and chlorine.
The only place in the periodic table of elements where new elements could be added is at the end after number 111, but these elements do not occur naturally, and can usually only be synthesized artifcially for a short while under very special conditions, hence it is close to impossible for a regular chemistry student to be able to synthesize a new element.
Hope this helps

Answer 3

How do you know that there are 74 proton or electrons? Was it by balancing chemical equation? Or was it by exposing the element to other processes? Or what? May be you could try knowing more of the element's properties by more of chemical reactions on it. Is it solid, liquid, gaseous? Acidic or basic? Such questions and more might would lead you to confidently decide if indeed any element is discovered.

Answer 4

I suppose it is possible. There would have to be some verification and he would need to repeat the process that he used to discover his "element" and other scientists will have to be able to verify it.