Atomic # = 100
Atomic weight = 259
Fermium is named after the scientist Enrico Fermi. Fermi was a great prankster. In college, he and his friends used to throw bits of sodium in puddles of water in close proximity to people that were using outdoor urinals. Sodium reacts explosively with water, and Fermi and his friends had a great time watching people’s reaction when they heard the explosion! To learn a little bit about the chemistry of the reaction between alkali metals (like sodium) and water, click here.