Eur. Phys. J. A (2005) 25: 583-587
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjad/i2005-06-202-2

ENAM 2004

Chemical properties of transactinides

¹ Paul Scherrer Institut, Freiestrasse 3, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
² University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

^* e-mail: heinz.gaeggeler@psi.ch

Received: 10 December 2004
Accepted: 31 March 2005
Published online: 15 August 2005

Abstract

First investigations of chemical properties of bohrium (Z = 107) and hassium (Z = 108) showed an expected behaviour as ordinary members of groups 7 and 8 of the periodic table. Two attempts to study element 112 yielded some indication for a behaviour like a very volatile noble metal. However, a very recent experiment to confirm this preliminary observation failed. Two examples are described how chemical studies may help to support element discovery claims from purely physics experiments. The two examples are the discovery claims of the elements 112 and 115, respectively, where the progenies hassium and dubnium were chemically identified.