The Chemical Separation of Eka-Hg from CERN W Targets in view of Recent Relativistic Calculations

TL;DR

This paper examines whether element 112 (Eka-Hg) chemically behaves like mercury, using recent relativistic calculations to support the assumption made in earlier nuclear experiments at CERN.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis confirming that element 112's chemistry is similar to mercury's, supporting previous experimental assumptions.

Findings

Element 112's chemistry resembles mercury's based on relativistic calculations.

Supports the validity of chemical separation methods used in earlier experiments.

Confirms the assumption that element 112 behaves like Hg chemically.

Abstract

In 1971 evidence for the production of element 112 via secondary reactions in CERN W targets was obtained. The evidence was mainly based on the observation of fission fragments in Hg sources separated from the W targets, on the measured masses of the fissioning nuclei and on the assumption that element 112 (Eka-Hg) actually behaves like Hg in the chemical separation process. This assumption is analyzed in view of recent relativistic calculations of the electronic structure of element 112. It is shown that in the superheavy element region only the chemistry of element 112 is similar to that of Hg.