noun

mendelevium

men-duh-LEE-vee-um

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Mendelevium (noun) means a radioactive, man-made chemical element with the symbol Md and atomic number 101, produced only in a particle accelerator. Example: “Mendelevium does not occur naturally and has to be made in a laboratory.”

noun

technical A radioactive, man-made chemical element with the symbol Md and atomic number 101, produced only in a particle accelerator.

"Mendelevium does not occur naturally and has to be made in a laboratory."

"The sample contained only a handful of atoms of mendelevium."

"Researchers study mendelevium's properties using tiny, short-lived quantities."

How to use mendelevium

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA man-made radioactive chemical element, number 101 on the periodic table.

When to use it

This is a technical chemistry term used mainly in scientific contexts.

Memory tip

Remember it is uncountable when talking about the substance in general, as with most element names.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

mendelevium (spelt mendeleevium)

Common pairings

an atom of mendelevium synthesise mendelevium the element mendelevium trace amounts of mendelevium

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ does not occur naturally and has to be made in a laboratory.

Etymology

The name honours the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, who set out the periodic law and an early periodic table. It was put forward by a Berkeley research team, led by Stanley Gerald Thompson and including Gregory Robert Choppin, Albert Ghiorso, Bernard George Harvey and Glenn T. Seaborg, after they first made the element in 1955.

Origin: English

Rhymes for mendelevium

curium osmium cerium erbium sodium helium cadmium caesium fermium gallium niobium thulium

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Frequently asked questions

What is mendelevium named after?

It is named in honour of Dmitri Mendeleev, the chemist who devised the periodic law and an early periodic table.

Does mendelevium occur naturally?

No, it is a synthetic element that has to be created artificially in a particle accelerator.

What is mendelevium's chemical symbol and atomic number?

Its symbol is Md and its atomic number is 101.

What is the meaning of mendelevium?

"mendelevium" (noun) means a radioactive, man-made chemical element with the symbol Md and atomic number 101, produced only in a particle accelerator.