francium

noun

fran·​ci·​um ˈfran(t)-sē-əm How to pronounce francium (audio)
: a short-lived radioactive element of the alkali-metal group occurring naturally as a disintegration product of actinium and also produced artificially see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of francium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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France also appears twice on the periodic table in the form of francium and gallium (from Gaul) and its capital city, Paris, gets a mention (in the form of lutetium). Mark Lorch, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016 Perey, being French, decided to call it francium instead. Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from France

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of francium was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near francium

Cite this Entry

“Francium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/francium. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

francium

noun
fran·​ci·​um ˈfran(t)-sē-əm How to pronounce francium (audio)
: a radioactive element obtained artificially by the bombardment of thorium with protons see element

Medical Definition

francium

noun
fran·​ci·​um ˈfran(t)-sē-əm How to pronounce francium (audio)
: a radioactive element of the alkali-metal group discovered as a disintegration product of actinium and obtained artificially by the bombardment of thorium with protons
symbol Fr
see Chemical Elements Table

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