Superheavy element pairing probes Einstein’s relativity

Chemists probing the predictive power of trends in the Periodic Table have successfully established a chemical bond between a superheavy element and a carbon atom. The pairing, between seaborgium and a carbon atom, offers the chance for more detailed investigation into the chemical behaviour of elements at the end of the table where the effects of Einstein’s relativity on chemical properties are most pronounced. Many positively charges protons in atomic nuclei accelerate electrons to very high velocities – about 80% the speed of light. Einstein’s theory of relativity states that electrons become heavier than when they are at rest, therefore orbits in superheavy elements might differ to those in lighter elements – which chemists expect to see by comparing homologs. In total, 18 atoms of seborgium were converted into seaborgium hexacarbonyl complexes which include six carbon monoxide molecules bound to the seaborgium through metal carbon bonds. They were created with a new method developed by researchers at 14 institutions being trialled and elaborated across the globe. The atoms were obtained during at two week, round-the-clock experiment pairing a German chemistry set-up with a Japanese detector. Its gaseous properties and adsorption to a silicon dioxide surface were compared with similar compounds in seaborgium’s group neighbours on the Periodic Table. Results revealed the seaborgium hexacarbonyl to be very similar to the corresponding hexacarbonyls of the homologs molybdenum and tungsten. “This breakthrough experiment could not have succeeded without the powerful and tight collaboration between 14 institutes around the world,” Said Professor Frank Maas, director of Helmholts Institute Mainz (HIM), where the work began. “The experiment represents a milestone in chemical studies of superheavy elements, showing that many advanced compounds are within reach of experimental investigation. The perspective that this opens up for gaining more insight into the nature of chemical bonds, not only in superheavy elements are fascinating.” The team, who published results in Science, is now planning further studies with elements heavier than seaborgium. Synthesis and detection of a seaborgium carbonyl complex