Chemical studies of rutherfordium (Rf) and nobelium (No) on an atom-at-a-time scale

Toyoshima, Atsushi

Chemical studies of rutherfordium (Rf) and nobelium (No) recently carried out at JAEA are reviewed. Anion-exchange behavior of Rf in HF and HNO mixed solution was studied together with short-lived Zr and Hf isotopes using an automated chemistry apparatus. It was found that the hexafluoro complex of Rf is present in the solutions under the given conditions where the same complexes of Zr and Hf are existing. The formation constant of the Rf complex was evaluated to be at least one order of magnitude smaller than those of Zr and Hf. Oxidation experiments of No was conducted in 0.1 M -hydroxyisobutyric (-HIB) acid using a newly developed electrolytic column chromatography apparatus on an atom-at-a-time scale. The result clearly demonstrated that stable No is successfully oxidized to the trivalent state, No, which is held in the -HIB solution.