promethium

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the radioactive rare-earth chemical element with symbol Pm and atomic number 61, which has no stable isotopes

   Promethium-147 can serve as a compact source of beta radiation in specialized devices.

Named in 1945 for Prometheus, the Greek mythic figure who stole fire from the gods for humanity, + -ium. The allusion likens control of nuclear energy to Prometheus's gift of fire.

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