Elements that used in International

Measurement Standards

Dr. Eric TP SZE

Associate Professor
School of Science and Technology
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Curriculum Link
• This seminar builds on knowledge learnt in the DSE curriculum:
• Chemistry Topics II, III, VI, XII and XIV

**The content of this pre-seminar material is based on the context of the

seminar and the curriculum of DSE Chemistry.**
Caesium

• Caesium has atomic number 55, with the Symbol Cs

• It is a soft, silvery-golden alkali metal
• With melting point of 28.5 ∘C, make it as one of the five liquid metals at or near
room temperature
• Highly reactive, need to be stored in the absence of air
Increase in reactivity
Periodic Table
Radioactive decay
Caesium Atomic Number of
Isotope Abundance Number Neutrons Half-life Decay Product
Synthetic
131 Cs radioisotope 55 76 9.7 d Electron capture 131 Xe
133 Cs ~100% 55 78 Stable n/a n/a
Synthetic Electron capture 134 Xe
134 Cs 55 79 2.0648 y
radioisotope
beta decay 134 Ba

135 Cs trace amount 55 80 2.3 × 106 y beta decay 135 Ba

Synthetic
137 Cs radioisotope 55 82 30.17 y beta decay 137 Ba
Measurands that commonly obtained in analytical chemistry
International Prototype Kilogram (IPK)

• Produced in 1884
• Made of an alloy of 90% platinum and 10% iridium
• in cylindrical form (easy to handle and machine)
• High density (approximately 21,530 kg m-3)
• Small size (39 mm diameter by 39 mm height)
• Minimum surface area (lower risk of surface
contamination)
• Lower buoyancy effect than made by other materials
with lower density materials
• Addition of iridium can increase hardness and reduce
wear (lost about 0.000005g in 129 years)
Iridium and Platinum

Iridium
• Atomic number 77, a transition metal
• Second densest terrestrial substances (after osmium)
• Acid resistance

Platinum
• Atomic number 78, a transition metal
• Highly resistant to corrosion
• Does not oxidize in air at any temperature
• Generally non-reactive
Silicon – for use in International Avogadro Project

• Atomic number 14, non-metal

• hard, brittle crystalline solid with metallic luster
• relatively unreactive
• crystallises in a giant covalent structure with a diamond
cubic lattice
• It can provide a smooth surface in making crystal sphere
• Diameter of silicon around 94 mm
IPK versus IAP

Diameter of silicon sphere

Volume of sphere

Number of 28 Si atoms

Mass of sphere Avogadro

(Calibrated by IPK) Constant