Element identity / decay
Nuclear synthesis and decay establish element 116.
Reference configuration
Reference electronic structure is theory/evaluation-led.
Chemical behavior
Most Group 16 chemical expectations remain theoretical.
Bulk phase / density / crystal
No macroscopic bulk properties are asserted.
Research boundary
No operational synthesis parameters are provided.
The lens describes evidence status, not confidence theatre. “Unknown” is kept unknown, and teaching schematics are not presented as direct measurements.
Livermorium (Lv)
Livermorium is element 116, a synthetic superheavy Group 16 element made atom-at-a-time. Its nuclear production and decay are measured; its chemistry is mostly theoretical and its macroscopic state, density, melting point and crystal structure remain unknown.
Livermorium atomic number, mass, electron configuration and key properties
Livermorium: quick answers
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does livermorium have?
Livermorium’s atomic number is 116, so every livermorium atom has 116 protons, and a neutral atom also has 116 electrons. Livermorium has no stable isotopes, so the neutron count depends on the isotope: livermorium-293, featured on this page, has 177 neutrons.
What is the symbol for livermorium?
The chemical symbol for livermorium is Lv.
Is livermorium a solid, liquid or gas at room temperature?
Livermorium has only been made a few atoms at a time, so its state at room temperature is unknown.
What family (group) is livermorium in?
Livermorium is a post-transition metal (predicted), in group 16, period 7 of the periodic table.
What is the electron configuration of livermorium?
The ground-state electron configuration of livermorium is [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁴. This is a predicted configuration; it has not been measured.
From atomic number to chemistry
Read these as a chain of causes, not as isolated facts. Each step links to the concept hub if you want the underlying idea explained.
116 protons define livermorium.
The reference ground-state configuration frames atomic and chemical behavior.
Periodic position organizes recurring trends without replacing element-specific evidence.
The teaching nucleus is one isotope, not the relative atomic mass.
Phase claims preserve measured/evaluated/predicted/unknown evidence labels.
Livermorium in its period and family
Livermorium is placed in Group 16 below polonium. Extremely strong relativistic effects are expected to reshape valence energies, so lighter chalcogen trends are hypotheses, not direct bulk measurements.
Livermorium Visual Lab
Rotate a ²⁹³Lv teaching nucleus and 7s/7p probability clouds, then move through the Evidence Lens from measured synthesis/decay to predicted relativistic chemistry and genuinely unknown bulk material properties.
Every mark points to one exact feature
The numbered markers explain the same information system used throughout Element Lookup. Unknown or predicted fields remain visibly labelled rather than being replaced with guesses.
Livermorium in one minute
Atomic number 116 means 116 protons.
Livermorium is synthetic; all known isotopes are radioactive.
The reference configuration ends 7s²7p⁴.
Most chemistry is predicted rather than experimentally established.
Bulk density, melting point, boiling point and crystal structure are unknown.
Shell rings organize electron counts. They are not electron trajectories or orbital shapes.
2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 32 · 18 · 6 electrons
The 7s/7p probability clouds are nonrelativistic teaching shapes. They support orbital literacy but do not claim measured livermorium chemistry or bulk electron density.
Only a few livermorium atoms have been produced. No measured bulk lattice, density or ordinary state exists, so the material viewer remains explicitly unknown.. The viewer is evidence-aware: measured structures are identified as such; unknown bulk structures stay unknown.
Teaching visualization; not a literal finite sample or thermal trajectory.What this model does—and does not—show
The 7s/7p probability clouds are nonrelativistic teaching shapes. They support orbital literacy but do not claim measured livermorium chemistry or bulk electron density.
Where do I meet livermorium?
Clickable learning cards connect the element to materials, environment, technology, biology or research - depending on what the evidence actually supports.
Synthesis/decay evidence
Livermorium atoms have been produced in superheavy-element research and identified through decay chains.
Measured synthesis/decay → predicted relativistic chemistry → unknown bulk
For element 116 the evidence ladder prevents a Group 16 label from turning into invented material properties.
Synthesis + decay
Atom-by-atom nuclear evidence establishes element 116.
Selenium, polonium and livermorium
Six outer electrons frame Group 16, but the evidence basis changes from bulk solids to pure prediction in the superheavy region.
| Evidence | bulk measured |
|---|---|
| Valence | 4s²4p⁴ |
| Evidence | bulk measured radioactive |
|---|---|
| Valence | 6s²6p⁴ |
| Evidence | decay measured; chemistry predicted |
|---|---|
| Ref. valence | 7s²7p⁴ |
Livermorium properties: atomic, physical, thermal and chemical
Categories follow the science of this element rather than a fixed decorative template. Each row carries condition/provenance context and an evidence label; unknown values stay unknown.
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic number | 116 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Relative atomic mass | [293] | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| ²⁹³Lv | Radioactive superheavy isotope | Reference teaching nucleus with 116 protons and 177 neutrons. | Evaluated |
| ²⁹²Lv | Radioactive isotope | Another short-lived isotope known from superheavy research. | Evaluated |
| Livermorium isotope context | No stable isotopes | All known isotopes are synthetic and radioactive. | Evaluated |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground-state electron configuration | [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁴ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Predicted |
| Group / period / block | Group 16 · Period 7 · p-block | Periodic-table placement | Evaluated |
| Electronegativity | Unknown | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Unknown |
| Common oxidation states | Predicted +2 / +4 and other Group 16 possibilities; not experimentally established as bulk chemistry | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Unknown |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ²⁹³Lv | Radioactive superheavy isotope | Reference teaching nucleus with 116 protons and 177 neutrons. | Evaluated |
| ²⁹²Lv | Radioactive isotope | Another short-lived isotope known from superheavy research. | Evaluated |
| Livermorium isotope context | No stable isotopes | All known isotopes are synthetic and radioactive. | Evaluated |
| Teaching nucleus | ²⁹³Lv · 116 protons + 177 neutrons | Reference isotope used in the nucleus model | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current use | Scientific research only | No commercial bulk use is implied. | Reviewed |
| Geography | Discovery, naming and research context only | No natural-resource map is appropriate. | Reviewed |
| Safety boundary | Non-operational educational context | No synthesis settings or material-access guidance. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | Unknown | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Unknown |
| Material / molecular structure | No measured macroscopic crystal structure | Only a few livermorium atoms have been produced. No measured bulk lattice, density or ordinary state exists, so the material viewer remains explicitly unknown. | Predicted |
| Melting / transition reference | Unknown | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Unknown |
| Boiling / gas reference | Unknown | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Unknown |
| Common oxidation states | Predicted +2 / +4 and other Group 16 possibilities; not experimentally established as bulk chemistry | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Unknown |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page evidence note | Nuclear synthesis/decay establishes element identity. The reference electron configuration and chemistry are theory/evaluation-led. Bulk density, phase boundaries, appearance and crystal structure are unknown. | Evidence summary for this guide | Reviewed |
| Structure evidence | Only a few livermorium atoms have been produced. No measured bulk lattice, density or ordinary state exists, so the material viewer remains explicitly unknown. | Measured structure, labelled schematic, prediction or explicit unknown as applicable. | Reviewed |
| Map evidence rule | Real pins are reviewed examples; conceptual layers are used when pins would mislead. | Geography Explorer 2.0 | Reviewed |
| Source set | 2 primary/reference links listed below | Open the Sources section for the actual references. | Reviewed |
Is Livermorium a solid, liquid or gas? State at temperature
No measured macroscopic phase boundaries exist for livermorium. The temperature explorer remains in an explicitly unknown state rather than drawing theoretical transitions as established fact.
Where on Earth is Livermorium found or produced?
Who discovered Livermorium, and when?
JINR and Lawrence Livermore collaborators reported production/decay evidence for element 116 isotopes.
IUPAC/IUPAP review recognized discovery claims for element 116.
IUPAC approved the name livermorium (Lv), honoring Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Research focuses on nuclear stability and theoretical superheavy chemistry.
How livermorium knowledge is built: decay evidence plus theory
Superheavy-element research creates extremely small numbers of atoms; operational synthesis settings are outside this guide.
Decay chains identify nuclei and connect them to daughter products.
Very short lifetimes and atom counts constrain direct chemical measurement.
Relativistic quantum-chemical calculations predict trends, but predictions remain visibly separate from measured evidence.
What is livermorium used for?
Fundamental nuclear science
Livermorium extends tests of superheavy nuclear stability and decay.
Relativistic atomic theory
Its high nuclear charge challenges calculations of valence structure and chemistry.
Periodic-trend research
The element tests how Group 16 concepts change in the superheavy region.
No practical bulk use
Only atom-scale research quantities exist.
Livermorium isotopes and natural abundance
²⁹³Lv
Radioactive superheavy isotopeReference teaching nucleus with 116 protons and 177 neutrons.
²⁹²Lv
Radioactive isotopeAnother short-lived isotope known from superheavy research.
Livermorium isotope context
No stable isotopesAll known isotopes are synthetic and radioactive.
Five-question Livermorium check
What is livermorium’s atomic number?
What is the measured bulk density?
What is the evidence status of most chemical predictions?
What does the material viewer show?
What is livermorium used for?
Livermorium questions students commonly ask
Each answer starts with the direct fact, then explains the chemistry, evidence or material context so the result is understandable rather than merely memorized.
What is livermorium?
Short answer: Livermorium is synthetic element 116, placed in Group 16.
Atomic number 116 means every livermorium nucleus contains 116 protons. In the periodic table, Livermorium is classified here as a synthetic superheavy group 16 element in Period 7 and Group 16. Livermorium is placed in Group 16 below polonium. Extremely strong relativistic effects are expected to reshape valence energies, so lighter chalcogen trends are hypotheses, not direct bulk measurements.
Key point: Lv is element 116; its periodic position and electron structure explain the rest of the page.
Is livermorium a metal?
Short answer: Some theoretical descriptions predict metallic behavior, but no macroscopic metal sample has established bulk properties.
This guide classifies Livermorium as a synthetic superheavy group 16 element. Its periodic position is Period 7, p-block, Group 16. Livermorium is placed in Group 16 below polonium. Extremely strong relativistic effects are expected to reshape valence energies, so lighter chalcogen trends are hypotheses, not direct bulk measurements.
Key point: Periodic-table classification describes recurring atomic/chemical behavior; it does not make every element in a column physically identical.
What does livermorium look like?
Short answer: No experimentally established macroscopic appearance exists.
The ordinary elemental-material description used here is: Macroscopic bulk state not experimentally established. No measured macroscopic phase boundaries exist for livermorium. The temperature explorer remains in an explicitly unknown state rather than drawing theoretical transitions as established fact.
Key point: Elemental appearance can differ from the colors of its ions, compounds, oxide films or host materials.
Who discovered livermorium?
Short answer: Its discovery history involves JINR Dubna and Lawrence Livermore collaborators.
In the 2000s, JINR and Lawrence Livermore collaborators reported production/decay evidence for element 116 isotopes. In 2011, IUPAC/IUPAP review recognized discovery claims for element 116.
Key point: Discovery credit follows the historical evidence and accepted attribution, not just the earliest claim.
What is livermorium used for?
Short answer: Fundamental research only.
Fundamental nuclear science: Livermorium extends tests of superheavy nuclear stability and decay. Relativistic atomic theory: Its high nuclear charge challenges calculations of valence structure and chemistry. Being below polonium in Group 16 does not give us permission to draw “livermorium metal.” Relativistic calculations can guide hypotheses, but they do not turn an unmeasured bulk property into fact.
Key point: Always distinguish the pure element from the compound, alloy, isotope or device material that actually performs the application.
How many neutrons are in the ²⁹³Lv teaching isotope?
Short answer: 177.
The page’s teaching nucleus is ²⁹³Lv, which contains 116 protons and 177 neutrons. Other isotopes of Livermorium keep the same 116 protons but have different neutron counts.
Key point: Neutron count is isotope-specific.
Scientific sources for Livermorium
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