Nihonium (Nh)
Unknown properties · Radioactive · Synthetic
Nihonium is the first element discovered in Asia — created at Japan's RIKEN institute after nine years of experiments that produced exactly three atoms. Its name means “Land of the Rising Sun”.
Position on the periodic table
Atomic properties
| Atomic number | 113 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 286 amu |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d10 7p1 |
| Noble gas shorthand | *[Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p1 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 3 |
| Valence electrons (outer shell) | 3 |
| Common oxidation states | None common |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | Not available |
| Covalent radius (approx.) | Not available |
| First ionization energy | Not available |
| Electron affinity | 66.6 kJ/mol |
Physical properties
| State at 25 °C | Solid |
|---|---|
| Density | 16 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 426.85 °C (700 K) |
| Boiling point | 1156.8 °C (1430 K) |
| Appearance | Not available |
| Radioactive | Yes |
| Origin | Synthetic (lab-made) |
Electron configuration of nihonium
Nihonium's ground-state electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d10 7p1, usually shortened to *[Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p1. Its electrons occupy 7 shells (2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 3), placing it in period 7 of the p-block. The 3 outer-shell electrons drive its bonding behaviour. Explore it interactively in the electron configuration calculator.
Uses of nihonium
- Fundamental research only
Biological role: None.
Occurrence: Entirely synthetic.
History and discovery
Discovered: 2004 — RIKEN. Name origin: From Nihon, a Japanese name for Japan.
Kosuke Morita's RIKEN team synthesised element 113 in 2004–2012; IUPAC confirmed the name nihonium in 2016.
Safety notes
Radioactive; exists for seconds at most.
Educational context only — always follow your school's laboratory rules and never handle chemicals without proper supervision. See our disclaimer.
Practice questions
Quick practice: Nihonium
1. What is the chemical symbol of Nihonium?
2. What is the atomic number of Nihonium?
3. Which category does Nihonium belong to?
4. What is the state of Nihonium at room temperature?
5. Which period of the periodic table is Nihonium in?
Nihonium FAQs
What is the atomic number of nihonium?
Nihonium's atomic number is 113 — every nihonium atom has 113 protons in its nucleus.
What is the symbol for nihonium?
Nh. From Nihon, a Japanese name for Japan.
Is nihonium a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid?
Nihonium is classified as a unknown properties.
What state is nihonium at room temperature?
At about 25 °C, nihonium is a solid. It melts at 426.85 °C.
How many valence electrons does nihonium have?
Nihonium has 3 electrons in its outer shell (shell pattern: 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 3).
What is nihonium used for?
Key uses include: fundamental research only.
Related elements
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