Trititanium (symbol Tt) is a chemical element, atomic number 128 on the periodic table.
Characteristics and history
Trititanium, in its most stable form, has an atomic mass of 328, and was discovered by Humans and the Federation for the first time on planet Motherlode in the year 2184. This element is part of the trans-uranic series of heavy elements. (ST reference: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual)
Trititanium was named as a extrapolation of another element's name, titanium. Trititanium was of note to Federation science because of qualities as a strong metal when used in alloys and compounds, specifically in the construction of starship hulls. (TOS episode: "Journey to Babel"; TOS novelization: The Motion Picture; TOS novel: In the Name of Honor)
See also
Appendices
Background
In real-life science, element 128 has yet to be discovered. A placeholder name based on its number, "unbioctium", has been suggested to document the possible existence of this substance. Some models of theoretical science have stated that heavy elements on this scale may be impossible to synthesize or reproduce, and cannot exist in nature. Subspace science mentioned in Star Trek may account for the contradiction of this being a natural resource on other worlds, as well as any relation to titanium, which is another aspect of this fictional material that has not been borne out in real-life study. The formation of the name has the prefix tri- preceding titanium, indicating some sort of threefold increase of the basic titanium.
References
- TOS episode: "Journey to Babel"
- ST references: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual, Spaceflight Chronology
- TOS novelization: The Motion Picture
- TOS novel: In the Name of Honor
External link
- Trititanium article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.