Chloride complexation of Zr and Hf in HCl investigated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy; Toward characterization of chloride complexation of element 104, rutherfordium (Rf)

Haba, Hiromitsu*; Akiyama, Kazuhiko*; Tsukada, Kazuaki  ; Asai, Masato  ; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Yaita, Tsuyoshi; Hirata, Masaru ; Sueki, Keisuke*; Nagame, Yuichiro 

Chloride complexation of the group-4 elements Zr and Hf in 8.0-11.9 M HCl is investigated by Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy to characterize chloro complexes of the transactinide element, rutherfordium (Rf). The complexes of Zr and Hf successively vary with the concentration of HCl from a hydrated complex [M(HO) ] at 8.0 M to a hexachloro complex [MCl] at 11.9 M (M = Zr and Hf). The present structural changes of the Zr and Hf complexes well reflect the previously studied anion-exchange behavior of Zr and Hf in HCl. From both the EXAFS and anion-exchange results, we suggest that Rf forms the same complexes as those of Zr and Hf in HCl, and that the complexation strength of the hexachloro complexes of the group-4 elements, [MCl] (M = Zr, Hf, and Rf), is in the sequence of Rf Zr Hf.