1. A synthetic radioactive element with atomic number 104, now called rutherfordium; named after Soviet physicist Igor Kurchatov.
Usage: chemistry; historical; The name was proposed by Soviet scientists but is no longer the official IUPAC designation.

Examples

• Kurchatovium was the Soviet name for element 104 before the international scientific community adopted rutherfordium.
• The discovery of kurchatovium represented a major achievement in nuclear physics during the Cold War.
• Scientists debated the naming of kurchatovium for years before reaching international consensus.
• In older chemistry texts, you may find references to kurchatovium rather than its modern name, rutherfordium.