Fermium (Fm) is expected to be a metal, but pure fermium metal has not yet been prepared in macroscopic (weighable) quantities.
Here's a breakdown:
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Fermium's Position on the Periodic Table: Fermium is an actinide, and all other actinides up to einsteinium (Es) have been produced in metallic form. Therefore, it is strongly inferred that fermium would also exist as a metal.
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Lack of Macroscopic Preparation: Due to its intense radioactivity and the difficulty of production, only very small amounts of fermium have ever been created. This makes preparing a bulk sample of pure fermium metal extremely challenging. The reference indicates it's the heaviest element that can be formed by neutron bombardment of lighter elements, effectively the last element that can theoretically be prepared in weighable (macroscopic) quantities. However, even this is unproven.
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Predicted Properties: While not directly observed, based on its position in the periodic table, scientists predict that fermium metal would have typical metallic properties, such as a silvery appearance, high density, and good electrical conductivity.
In summary, while there's no confirmed sample of pure fermium metal to analyze, the element is strongly predicted to be a metal based on its elemental family and theoretical properties.
