Hassium has only been synthesized in very minute quantities; in fact, this element has only been synthesized to the amount of a few atoms. Because these particles are so difficult to synthesize, and the isotopes decay so quickly, future synthesis of hassium is highly questionable; to this date hassium has never been isolated. The only production of hassium that has been successful has required the use of a nuclear reactor. For this procedure an isotope of lead, number 208, was fused in the nuclear reactor with an isotope, number 58, of iron. The fusion led to the formation of an isotope of hassium, number 265, and one neutron. The formation of a new isotope of hassium, number 270, was produced in December of 2006. The isotope that was produced had a half life of 22 seconds; this seemingly short half life is actually considered to be quite lengthy for the synthetic elements.
