What Is Nihonium?

Nihonium is a chemical element with the symbol Nh and atomic number 113, categorized as a post-transition metal.

First element discovered by an Asian team (RIKEN, Japan). Named after Japan (Nihon).

As a post-transition metal in Period 7 and Group 13 (Boron Group), nihonium's placement on the table reflects its electron configuration of [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p¹, which governs its bonding behavior and the type of compounds it typically forms.

Position on the Periodic Table

Nihonium is located in Period 7, the bottom row of the standard periodic table, consisting largely of radioactive and synthetic elements.

Within that row, nihonium sits in Group 13 (Boron Group), alongside elements that share a similar number of valence electrons and, by extension, similar chemical behavior.

This position is not arbitrary — the periodic table was deliberately organized so that an element's row and column reveal its expected reactivity, bonding pattern, and physical state at a glance.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Nihonium has an atomic mass of (286) u and a density of ~16 g/cm³.

Nihonium is generally softer and lower-melting than the transition metals positioned to its left on the periodic table.

Electron Configuration Explained

Nihonium's electron configuration is [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p¹, describing how its electrons are distributed across shells and subshells around the nucleus.

Reading the configuration in order shows electrons filling shells of increasing energy, following the standard Aufbau principle that explains how atomic structure builds up across the periodic table.

The outermost (valence) electrons shown in this configuration are what ultimately determine nihonium's chemical reactivity and the type of bonds it forms with other elements.

History & Discovery

Nihonium was formally discovered in 2004, Morita, identified through the careful isolation and analytical techniques typical of that era's chemical research.

Many elements from this period were anticipated by Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table, which successfully predicted gaps corresponding to undiscovered elements well before laboratory instruments existed to confirm them directly.

What Is Nihonium Used For?

Nihonium's specific properties make it useful in several applications, including:

  • Research only
  • Nuclear physics
  • Scientific study
  • No practical uses
  • Academic research

These uses reflect nihonium's underlying classification as a post-transition metal, since the same properties that define its category in chemistry also determine where it becomes practically useful.

Fun Facts About Nihonium

  • Nihonium was the first element discovered in Asia — by Japanese scientists at RIKEN in 2004.
  • Nihonium is element number 113 on the periodic table, in Period 7 and Group 13.
  • Its standard atomic mass is (286) u, calculated from the natural abundance of its isotopes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nihonium's atomic number?
Nihonium has atomic number 113.

What is Nihonium's chemical symbol?
Nihonium's symbol is Nh.

What group and period is Nihonium in?
Nihonium is in Period 7, Group 13 (Boron Group).

What is Nihonium's atomic mass?
Nihonium's standard atomic mass is (286) u.