skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: The transuranium elements: Members of the 5f series

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6592346

During the last 40 years, the electronic structure of the actinide elements has been investigated in great detail primarily by means of spectroscopic studies of gaseous atoms and ions, as well as of solutions and compounds, and by magnetic susceptibility and electron spin resonance studies of metals, alloys, and compounds. Both experimental and theoretical studies have resulted in accurate values for spin orbit coupling and crystal field parameters for 5f electrons, for example, which can be compared with values characteristic of 4f electrons. The somewhat greater spatial extent of 5f versus 4f wavefunctions gives rise to 5f orbital participation in the bonding of actinide element organometallic compounds and leads to an extensive and intricate organometallic chemistry for this group of elements. This report reviews the history of the development of ideas concerning the electronic structure of the new elements which, by determining their chemistry, would fix their position in the Periodic Table.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6592346
Report Number(s):
CONF-900802-7; ON: DE90017680
Resource Relation:
Conference: 200. American Chemical Society national meeting, Washington, DC (USA), 26-31 Aug 1990
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English