The periodic stabilization of the 5f orbitals across the early actinide series gives rise to the complex and fascinating chemical behavior that is the hallmark of these elements’ chemistry. Often overlooked, both experimentally and computationally, is the chemistry of protactinium, Z = 91. Our hypothesis has been that protactinium sits at a chemical intersection of transition metal d- and actinide f- like chemistries that can be demonstrated experimentally and computationally. Recently, we have explored by experiment, whether or not protactinium may form a hexametalate, like that observed for niobium and tantalum. Complementary computational studies have explored whether or not such a complex would be stable. Additionally the electronic properties of our experimentally synthesized protactinium complexes, along with those of Nb, Ta, and U have been studied to explore the periodic chemical differences between these elements. Presented here will be our combined experimental and computational study of the changing chemistries between the transition metals and the actinides, highlighting their intersection at protactinium.

Experimental and computational study of protactinium, the transition metals and the actinides

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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