The Chemistry of the Actinide and Transactinide Elements

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the history, abundance, distribution, and production of the actinide and transactinide elements. The actinides are the 14 elements from thorium to lawrencium inclusive, which follow actinium in the periodic table. The actinides result from the filling of the 5f orbitals. The isolation and characterization of actinides, particularly the heavier ones, have posed enormous problems. Individual elements are not produced cleanly in isolation but must be separated from other actinides as well as from lanthanides that are produced simultaneously by fission. The transuranium elements are prepared artificially. The chapter provides an overview of the applications and the uses of the actinide and transactinide elements. Apart from its long-standing though small-scale use for coloring glass and ceramics, uranium has significant use in nuclear fuel. The chapter also discusses the physical properties, chemical reactivity, and group trends of the actinide and transactinide elements. All the actinides are radioactive and their stability decreases with increasing atomic number.