Francium (Fr)
Precious Metals | Atomic Number: 87
Basic Properties
Fr
87
223 g/mol
| Element Category | Precious Metals |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 87 |
| Atomic Weight | 223 g/mol |
| Crystal Structure | Body-centered cubic (BCC) |
Description
Francium is the most electropositive element and one of the rarest naturally occurring elements.
| Density | 2.48 g/cm³ |
|---|
| Tensile Strength | 1.0 MPa |
|---|---|
| Hardness | 0.1 Mohs |
| Melting Point | 27°C |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 677°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 15 W/(m·K) |
| Electrical Conductivity | 3.0 × 10^6 S/m |
|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Poor - extremely radioactive and reactive |
|---|
Applications
Research applications only due to extreme radioactivity and short half-life
Production Methods
Nuclear reactions, decay of actinium
History
Discovered by Marguerite Perey in 1939 as a decay product of actinium.