It is difficult to investigate the chemical properties of superheavy elements, which are only available an atom at a time and rapidly decay. A co-precipitation method with samarium has now been developed that suggests rutherfordium would form hydroxide precipitates—but not ammine ones—if it were possible to perform these experiments on macroscopic quantities.
- Yoshitaka Kasamatsu
- Keigo Toyomura
- Atsushi Shinohara
