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Promethium

In 1945, American scientists discovered radioactive promethium and decided to name the element after Prometheus who, in Greek mythology, had stolen fire from the gods.

The element exists in trace amounts in uranium ores, and approximately 30 compounds have been produced. However, scientists know relatively little about promethium and its properties.

Due to the absence of stable isotopes, commercial applications for promethium have not been developed. In the nuclear industry, the element is used in specialized batteries. Scientists believe that promethium holds promise for future applications such as portable X-ray units.