Where Does the Periodic Table End?

摘要

The periodic table could be considered to end at the largest stable element, lead (atomic number 82). All elements with higher atomic numbers have unstable nuclei, because the assembled protons become too large for the strong nuclear force to hold together. Hence, all those elements with atomic numbers greater than that of lead will eventually undergo radioactive decay to reduce their atomic number to 82 or less; as such, these elements can be considered transients.