Moscovium
Atomic Data
| Atomic Number | 115 |
| Symbol | Mc |
| Atomic Weight | 290 u |
| Density (STP) | N/A |
| Melting Point | N/A °C (None K) |
| Boiling Point | N/A °C (None K) |
| Electronegativity | : |
| Electron Config. | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 5f14 6s2 6p6 6d10 7s2 7p3 |
| Oxidation States | +1, +3 |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Category | Post-Transition Metal |
| Period / Group | 7 / 15 |
| CAS Number | 54085-64-2 |
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p3
| Shell | n | Subshell | Electrons | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 1 | 1s | 2 | 2 |
| L | 2 | 2s | 2 | 4 |
| L | 2 | 2p | 6 | 10 |
| M | 3 | 3s | 2 | 12 |
| M | 3 | 3p | 6 | 18 |
| M | 3 | 3d | 10 | 28 |
| N | 4 | 4s | 2 | 30 |
| N | 4 | 4p | 6 | 36 |
| N | 4 | 4d | 10 | 46 |
| N | 4 | 4f | 14 | 60 |
| O | 5 | 5s | 2 | 62 |
| O | 5 | 5p | 6 | 68 |
| O | 5 | 5d | 10 | 78 |
| O | 5 | 5f | 14 | 92 |
| P | 6 | 6s | 2 | 94 |
| P | 6 | 6p | 6 | 100 |
| P | 6 | 6d | 10 | 110 |
| Q | 7 | 7s | 2 | 112 |
| Q | 7 | 7p | 3 | 115 |
| Total | 115 | 115 | ||
Isotopes of Moscovium
Moscovium is monoisotopic: ²⁹⁰Mc is its only naturally occurring stable isotope, accounting for 100% of all natural Moscovium.
| Isotope | Symbol | Protons | Neutrons | Abundance | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moscovium-290 | ²⁹⁰Mc | 115 | 175 | trace | Stable |
Abundance & Occurrence
Moscovium is present in Earth's crust at approximately trace amounts by mass and at approximately trace amounts by mass throughout the universe.
Earth's Crust (ppm by mass)
Universe (ppm by mass)
Discovery & History
Read more about the discovery of the periodic table of elements →
Safety & Handling
- Alpha radiation and very short half-life: Moscovium isotopes are alpha emitters; Mc-290 (t½ = 0.65 s) is among the longer-lived, making any chemical characterisation extremely challenging.
- No practical hazard: Only a few dozen atoms of moscovium have ever been produced; there is no macroscopic radiological or chemical hazard from the element.
- Berkelium target radiation: The synthesis of moscovium requires bombardment of Bk-249 targets, which are themselves intensely radioactive; target preparation and handling represent a significant radiological hazard independent of moscovium itself.
- Regulatory controls: All moscovium experiments are conducted at licensed nuclear facilities (JINR Dubna) under comprehensive radiation protection and nuclear material accountancy.
Moscovium in the Real World
Real-World Uses
- Superheavy element synthesis and identification: Moscovium (Mc-289, Mc-290) is produced by bombardment of Am-243 with Ca-48 ions; its alpha-decay chain passes through nihonium (Z=113), providing a crucial identification link for that element and establishing the decay systematics of the region near Z=115.
- Nuclear shell model testing: Moscovium isotopes lie close to the predicted N=184 neutron shell closure; decay energy measurements test whether enhanced stability (longer half-lives) is observed as neutron number approaches the magic value, providing a key test of nuclear shell theory.
- No commercial applications: Moscovium is produced a few atoms per run; its most stable known isotope (Mc-290) has a half-life of about 650 milliseconds, making any application impossible.
Downloadable Resources
Free periodic table reference sheets for classrooms, study sessions, and laboratory use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has moscovium ever been used for anything?
No. Moscovium has no practical applications. Its most stable isotope (Mc-290) has a half-life of about 0.65 seconds. It exists only as individual atoms produced in particle accelerator experiments and is studied solely for fundamental nuclear physics and chemistry research.
How many atoms of moscovium have been made?
Moscovium was first synthesised in 2003 at JINR in Dubna, Russia, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Only a handful of atoms were produced in the initial experiments. Since then, more atoms have been produced for further study, but the total is still in the range of a few dozen atoms, all of which decayed within a second of being created.
Is moscovium radioactive?
Yes, all isotopes of moscovium are radioactive. The most stable known, Mc-290, has a half-life of about 0.65 seconds. It decays by alpha emission. No stable or long-lived isotopes of moscovium are known. All atoms decay almost immediately in particle accelerator experiments.
How did moscovium get its name?
Moscovium was named after the Moscow Oblast (region) in Russia, where the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna is located. The element was synthesised at JINR in 2003 in a collaboration between Russian and American teams. The name and symbol (Mc) were approved by IUPAC in 2016, the same year as the approvals for nihonium, tennessine, and oganesson.