Why did it take scientist 80 year to discover Francium?

Answer 1

Francium is an extremely reactive and rare element and was the last of the group one elements to be discovered. The main reason for this is that the most common isotope of naturally occurring francium is radioactive. This means that its nucleus is unstable and gives out radiation, in doing so it turns into different element. The half life of this isotope of francium is about 21 minutes. this means that if you had 10g of francium after 21 minutes you would only have 5g - the rest would have turned into a different element!. The naturally occurring isotope of francium is a decay product of a actinium which itself is a decay product. To \"find\" francium you would have to detect the radioactive emission given out when actinium decays into francium.

Answer 2

Francium is a naturally unstable element.
Francium is extremely rare, as it is highly radioactive and the most stable isotope has a half-life of 22 minutes. This means that if a francium atom is formed it will almost certainly disappear very very quickly. At any one time there is only about 25g of naturally occurring francium in the whole of Earth. Its exreme rarity means it is very difficult to find.

Answer 3

Francium is a naturally unstable element.
Francium is extremely rare, as it is highly radioactive and the most stable isotope has a half-life of 22 minutes. This means that if a francium atom is formed it will almost certainly disappear very very quickly. At any one time there is only about 25g of naturally occurring francium in the whole of Earth. Its exreme rarity means it is very difficult to fin

Answer 4

Francium is an extremely reactive and rare element and was the last of the group one elements to be discovered. The main reason for this is that the most common isotope of naturally occurring francium is radioactive. This means that its nucleus is unstable and gives out radiation, in doing so it turns into different element. The half life of this isotope of francium is about 21 minutes. this means that if you had 10g of francium after 21 minutes you would only have 5g - the rest would have turned into a different element!. The naturally sucking d**k occurring isotope of francium is a decay product of a actinium which itself is a decay product. To \"find\" francium you would have to detect the radioactive emission given out when actinium decays into francium.