Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

From:       halfen
Text:       My name is DeWayne Halfen.  I am from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.  
I wonder If you could tell me about the new synthetic elements that chemists 
are making.

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      Robert Topper
Text:        Most chemists do not actually synthesize elements, which are 
defined to be atoms. Only chemists working with physicists to make short-lived 
isotopes (and long-lived isotopes) of atoms in giant collision experiments and 
in nuclear reactors can really be said to be synthesizing "elements."  But 
perhaps what you really want to know is what kinds of molecules or new 
materials that chemists are making, by taking existing atoms (or even small 
molecules that happen to be cheap and easily obtained) and synthesizing new 
compounds.  There the answer is, there are as many molecules being made as one 
person could imagine making, using their whole lifetime to think about it.  
Some chemists are making drugs to treat diseases, like cancer and AIDS.  
Others are making polymers, plastics and new materials to use for every 
purpose from stopping bowling balls at the end of the ball return track to 
bungee cords and tiles on the space shuttle.  Other chemists are designing new 
superconducting materials.  The possibilities are endless....virtually every 
thing in the room you are sitting in right now has some aspect that a chemist 
has tried to work on using a synthetic approach.  Even a wooden table in the 
room was varnished using chemicals which were either synthesized or formulated 
by a chemist.  I am sorry if this answer is broad, but your question was broad 
too!