Electronic structure and bonding in transuranics: comparison with lanthanides

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5088(83)90174-1· OSTI ID:6517549

Ward, J W

The physico-chemical properties of the actinide metals, alloys, and compounds show interesting parallels and contrasts with the rare earths, beyond uranium. At first there is a transition region where the unique bonding properties of the early actinides become less prominent, due to progressive f-electron localization. Nevertheless, in contrast to the rare earths, f-electron energies remain close to the Fermi level, resulting in complex behavior as a function of temperature, pressure and structure. Particularly interesting in this region are the metallic hydrides, whose chemistry is clearly rare-earth like, but whose electronic properties are entirely different. At americium a major localization and f-band narrowing occurs, but the explanation of americium behavior is obscured by the occurrence of the unique f/sup 6/ non-magnetic solid-state configuration. Beyond americium, it would appear that real rare-earth-like behavior finally begins; this has been born out by recent studies on the thermodynamics and cohesive energies of curium, berkelium, californium and einsteinium metals. However, a new complication arises almost immediately, in the onset of incipient stabilization of the divalent state, which already appears in californium, whose physico-chemical properties are remarkably similar to samarium. Einsteinium appears to be fully divalent, thus heralding the beginning of a mini-series of truly divalent metals.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6517549
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-83-352; CONF-830419-1; ON: DE83007549
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
640302* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACTINIDES
AMERICIUM
BERKELIUM
CALIFORNIUM
CHEMICAL BONDS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CURIUM
EINSTEINIUM
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS