Scientists Discover New Heavy-Metal Molecule 'Berkelocene'

Key Takeaways Scientists have discovered “berkelocene,” the first organometallic molecule to be characterized containing the heavy element berkelium. The extremely oxygen- and water-sensitive complex was formed from 0.3 milligram of berkelium-249 using specialized facilities for handling air-sensitive and radioactive materials. The breakthrough disrupts long-held theories about the chemistry of the elements that follow uranium in the periodic table. A research team led by the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has discovered “berkelocene,” the first organometallic molecule to be characterized containing the heavy element berkelium. Organometallic molecules, which consist of a metal ion surrounded by a carbon-based framework, are relatively common for early actinide elements like uranium (atomic number 92) but are scarcely known for later actinides like berkelium (atomic number 97). “This is the first time that evidence for the formation of ... Read full article.