On the discovery of new elements (IUPAC/IUPAP Provisional Report)

TLDR

The criteria for verifying new element discoveries were established by a Transfermium Working Group of IUPAC and IUPAP nearly thirty years ago. The paper reviews the discovery criteria in light of recent advances, estimates future experimental developments for new elements, and presents criteria and guidelines for establishing priority of discovery. A new Joint Working Group was formed in late 2016, met in May 2017, and reviewed the Transfermium Working Group’s conclusions, summarizing the application of discovery criteria and their limits. The report was completed one year after the JWG’s first meeting.

Abstract

Abstract Almost thirty years ago the criteria that are currently used to verify claims for the discovery of a new element were set down by the comprehensive work of a Transfermium Working Group, TWG, jointly established by IUPAC and IUPAP. The recent completion of the naming of the 118 elements in the first seven periods of the Periodic Table of the Elements was considered as an opportunity for a review of these criteria in the light of the experimental and theoretical advances in the field. In late 2016 the Unions decided to establish a new Joint Working Group, JWG, consisting of six members determined by the Unions. A first meeting of the JWG was in May 2017. One year later this report was finished. In a first part the works and conclusions of the TWG and the Joint Working Parties, JWP, deciding on the discovery of the now named elements are summarized. Possible experimental developments for production and identification of new elements beyond the presently known ones are estimated. Criteria and guidelines for establishing priority of discovery of these potential new elements are presented. Special emphasis is given to a description for the application of the criteria and the limits for their applicability.