Hassium

Hassium is named after the German state of Hesse (Hassia in Latin), where the GSI laboratory is located. It was first synthesized in 1984 by Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg by bombarding lead with iron atoms. Only three atoms were produced in the initial experiment, each lasting only a few milliseconds before decaying.

Hassium is one of the heaviest elements for which chemical properties have been studied. In a remarkable 2001 experiment, scientists created seven atoms of hassium and managed to convert them into hassium tetroxide gas, proving it behaves like osmium — its lighter relative on the periodic table. This experiment with just seven atoms is considered a masterpiece of experimental chemistry. Its most stable isotope has a half-life of about 16 seconds.

Hassium's symbol 'Hs' is a distinctive two-letter element in Spellement. While 'hs' is uncommon at word beginnings, partial emphasis lets spellers use 'h' or 's' individually. Since both are very common English consonants, hassium provides useful flexibility for creative word building.