101Md Mendelevium
Year Discovered
1955
Discovered By
Albert Ghiorso, Bernard Harvey, Gregory Choppen, Stanley Thompson and Glenn Seaborg of the USA
Biological Rating
Not necessary for life.
Description
Named after Russian chemist Dimitri Mendeleev (who invented the Periodic Table), mendelevium is a highly radioactive metal. It has never been found naturally and only a few micrograms have been produced in laboratories. Its chemistry and appearance are not known with any certainty but should be similar to the other actinides. Mendelevium is too rare to have any commercial or industrial application. The most stable isotope of mendelevium has a half-life of 52 days.
Biological Benefits
Mendelevium has no biological use.
Role in Life Processes
No known benefit to life processes in plants and animals.
Sources
Mendelevium was first obtained by particle bombardment of einsteinium. Other methods of creating it are currently known.
