In heaviest element chemistry experiments the adsorption behaviour of single atoms on noble metal surfaces (e.g. Au) are measured. Deduced adsorption enthalpies are then compared with theoretical values using relativistic models. However, there are some drawbacks using this strategy: measurements are conducted under ambient carrier gas conditions which prevent surfaces to be clean in a strict sense. An alternative approach is to correlate experimental adsorption enthalpies measured on boundary layers with sublimation enthalpies. For given classes of compounds (e.g. halides, oxides) or elements on a given surface (quartz, noble metal etc.) highly significant correlations are observed. Such extrapolated sublimation enthalpies can then be compared with values determined by relativistic theoretical solid-state calculations (cohesive energies). A recent example that validates such an approach is astatine. Theoretical [1] and experimental [2] values for the sublimation enthalpy of At agree well. Application of this strategy to copernicium (Cn) and flerovium (Fl) will be presented. [1] A. Hermann et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 111, 116404 (2013) [2] A. Serov et al., Radiochim. Acta 99, 593–600 (2011)

Correlation between single-atom adsorption enthalpies and solid-state properties

249th National Meeting (2015)

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