105Db Dubnium
Year Discovered
1967 / 1970
Discovered By
A group of scientists in the Soviet Union claimed discovery in 1967. A group of American scientists claimed discovery in 1970. IUPAC has declared that both groups should share credit for discovery.
Biological Rating
Not necessary for life.
Description
Named after Dubna, the area near Moscow where Soviet scientists discovered rutherfordium and dubnium. Dubnium is a highly radioactive metal. It has never been found naturally and only a small number of atoms have been produced in laboratories. Its chemistry and appearance are not known with any certainty, although the chemistry is believed to be similar to tantalum. Dubnium is too rare to have any commercial or industrial application. The most stable isotope of dubnium has a half-life of 34 seconds.
Biological Benefits
Dubnium has no biological use.
Role in Life Processes
No known benefits for life processes in plants and animals.
Sources
Dubnium is obtained by the particle bombardment of californium or berkelium.
