bohrium: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely RareScientific/Technical
Quick answer
What does “bohrium” mean?
A synthetic, highly radioactive chemical element with atomic number 107.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A synthetic, highly radioactive chemical element with atomic number 107.
A transition metal in group 7 of the periodic table, produced artificially in particle accelerators and having no stable isotopes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between UK and US English. Pronunciation may show slight variation in vowel length.
Connotations
Purely scientific, no cultural connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “bohrium” in a Sentence
[Element] bohrium was synthesised in [year/location].The [isotope] isotope of bohrium has a half-life of [time].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used exclusively in advanced chemistry, physics, and materials science papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in nuclear chemistry and particle accelerator research for discussing synthetic elements and transuranic chemistry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bohrium”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bohrium”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bohrium”
- Mispronouncing as 'bore-ium' or 'bohr-ee-um' with a strong second syllable stress.
- Assuming it is a naturally occurring or commercially available material.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Bohrium has no practical applications outside of basic scientific research due to its extreme rarity and radioactivity. It is studied to understand the properties of heavy elements.
No, bohrium does not occur naturally. It can only be produced artificially in particle accelerators and exists for only a very short time before decaying.
Like all synthetic, highly radioactive elements, bohrium would be hazardous if encountered in significant quantities. However, it is produced in minute amounts (atom-by-atom) under strictly controlled laboratory conditions.
Bohrium was first convincingly synthesised in 1981 by a German research team led by Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt.
A synthetic, highly radioactive chemical element with atomic number 107.
Bohrium is usually scientific/technical in register.
Bohrium: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɔː.ri.əm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɔr.i.əm/ or /ˈboʊr.i.əm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the physicist Niels Bohr + the standard element ending '-ium'.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A. The term is a literal scientific label.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'bohrium' primarily used?