By: Cameron Janney

Properties and Uses of Francium

• Properties

– Melting point is 27 degree celsius

– Boiling point is 677 degree celcius

– Heaviest of alkali metals

– Most unstable of the first 101 elements

– Closely resembles chemical property of cesium

• Uses

– According to science, Francium only exists in short-lived radioactive forms. From the properties of the known isotopes, it states that no long-lived form of Francium will ever be found in nature. The most "durable" has a half-life of 21 minutes (if you had 1 gram of it, you'd only have 0.5 gram 21 minutes later). Based on this information, Francium is not being used in industry.

History and Location of Francium

• Discovered in 1939 by Marguerite Perey of the Curie Institute, Paris, France. Francium was named after the country in which it was discovered.

• The symbol of Francium (Fr) came from the country France.

• There is only 20-30 grams of the element in the earth's crust at any one time. No weighable quantity of the element has been prepared or isolated. There are about 20 known isotopes. Francium is very rare and is found only as very small traces in some uranium minerals. It has never been isolated as the pure element. Since it is so radioactive, any amount formed would decompose to other elements.

Francium PoemFrom France you did make your appearance one day

Only to discover, you were not here to stay

Perey was your hero, who brought you your fameAnd because of her homeland, Francium is your name

Fr is the symbol you’re known for by fewBut the rest of us, would not have a clue

What a mystery you bring to scientist everywhereAnd even to those of us, who don’t really care

You distribute yourself throughout the earth’s crustAnd because of your size a microscope’s a must!

Keep up your bright metallica shineAnd maybe one day a future you’ll fine.

Resources

• http://chemistry.allinfoabout.com/periodic/periodictable.html

• http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem99/chem99189.htm

• http://chemistry.about.com/library/blper5.htm