Nihonium

Nihonium is a synthetic, radioactive element occupying group 13 of the periodic table, below thallium. Its discovery was credited to researchers at RIKEN in Japan, and its name derives from “Nihon,” a Japanese name for Japan. Produced in extremely small quantities, nihonium is investigated through the formation, decay and chemical behavior of individual atoms. Experiments have examined its interaction with surfaces, providing evidence of how relativistic effects influence chemistry near the end of the periodic table. It has no established commercial applications.