First Study on Nihonium (Nh, Element 113) Chemistry at TASCA

Abstract

Nihonium (Nh, element 113) and flerovium (Fl, element 114) are the first superheavy elements in which the <i>7p</i> shell is occupied. High volatility and inertness were predicted for Fl due to the strong relativistic stabilization of the closed <i>7p</i> _<i>1/2</i> sub-shell, which originates from a large spin-orbit splitting between the <i>7p</i> _<i>1/2</i> and <i>7p</i> _<i>3/2</i> orbitals. One unpaired electron in the outermost <i>7p</i> _<i>1/2</i> sub-shell in Nh is expected to give rise to a higher chemical reactivity. Theoretical predictions of Nh reactivity are discussed, along with results of the first experimental attempts to study Nh chemistry in the gas phase. The experimental observations verify a higher chemical reactivity of Nh atoms compared to its neighbor Fl and call for the development of advanced setups. First tests of a newly developed detection device miniCOMPACT with highly reactive Fr isotopes assure that effective chemical studies of Nh are within reach.