Chemistry of the Actinide Elements

Abstract

itself primarily with the chemical literature appearing during the year 1950. Where the discussion requires it, publica­ tions before 1950 will be cited, but no systematic survey of all of the per­ tinent literature between 1945 and 1949 can be undertaken here. The year has been an active one in this field. More than 200 publications dealing with various aspects of the actinide elements have appeared. The appearance of a number of volumes of the National Nuclear Energy Series has been particularly significant in bringing the results of much war-time research to the attention of the scientific world. Increasing attention has been devoted to some of the hitherto more obscure members of the actinide ele­ ments, especially elements actinium and protactinium. The greater portion of activity, however, remains concentrated on the chemistry of uranium and thorium, presumably because of their comparatively greater accessibility. Noteworthy during the period under discussion has been the discovery of elements 97 and 98, berkelium and californium. The electronic configuration of the actinide elements has generated a lively discussion which has done much to clarify the relationships of the actinide elements to each other and to the remainder of the elements in the periodic system.