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Related Concept Videos

Periodic Classification of the Elements04:00

Periodic Classification of the Elements

The periodic table arranges atoms based on increasing atomic number so that elements with the same chemical properties recur periodically. When their electron configurations are added to the table, a periodic recurrence of similar electron configurations in the outer shells of these elements is observed. Because they are in the outer shells of an atom, valence electrons play the most important role in chemical reactions. The outer electrons have the highest energy of the electrons in an atom...
Properties of Transition Metals02:58

Properties of Transition Metals

Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.
Trends in Lattice Energy: Ion Size and Charge02:54

Trends in Lattice Energy: Ion Size and Charge

An ionic compound is stable because of the electrostatic attraction between its positive and negative ions. The lattice energy of a compound is a measure of the strength of this attraction. The lattice energy (ΔHlattice) of an ionic compound is defined as the energy required to separate one mole of the solid into its component gaseous ions. For the ionic solid sodium chloride, the lattice energy is the enthalpy change of the process:
Nuclear Stability03:18

Nuclear Stability

Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together in the...
Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge03:08

Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge

The elements in groups of the periodic table exhibit similar chemical behavior. This similarity occurs because the members of a group have the same number and distribution of electrons in their valence shells.
Electron Configurations02:46

Electron Configurations

Electron configurations and orbital diagrams can be determined by applying the Aufbau principle (each added electron occupies the subshell of lowest energy available), Pauli exclusion principle (no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers), and Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity (whenever possible, electrons retain unpaired spins in degenerate orbitals).
The relative energies of the subshells determine the order in which atomic orbitals are filled (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s,...

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Periodic trends in hexanuclear actinide clusters.

Juan Diwu1, Shuao Wang, Thomas E Albrecht-Schmitt

  • 1Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.

Inorganic Chemistry
|March 23, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New hexanuclear clusters of thorium, uranium, and neptunium were synthesized using 1,2-phenylenediphosphonate ligands. The ionic radius of actinides influences cluster cavity size and ion encapsulation, impacting structural diversity.

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Area of Science:

  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Coordination Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Hexanuclear clusters featuring actinides (Th, U, Np) are of interest for their unique structural and electronic properties.
  • 1,2-phenylenediphosphonate serves as an effective bridging ligand for constructing complex metal-organic frameworks.
  • Self-assembly methods offer a facile route to synthesize intricate coordination compounds at ambient conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize and characterize novel hexanuclear clusters of Th(IV), U(IV), and Np(IV) using 1,2-phenylenediphosphonate.
  • To investigate the structural diversity and comparative features of these clusters with known actinide and cerium clusters.
  • To explore the influence of actinide ionic radius on cluster cavity size and guest ion incorporation.

Main Methods:

  • Solution-phase self-assembly at room temperature.
  • Single-crystal X-ray diffraction for structural determination.
  • Comparative analysis of crystallographic data and coordination environments.

Main Results:

  • Four new hexanuclear clusters were successfully synthesized: Th(6), Np(6), and two U(6) variants.
  • All clusters share a common formula M(6)(H(2)O)(m)[C(6)H(3)(PO(3))(PO(3)H)](6)(NO(3))(n)((6-n)), with varying coordination numbers and ligand arrangements.
  • Actinide ionic radius dictates the cluster's internal cavity size, influencing the type of cations (e.g., Cs(+), Tl(+), NH(4)(+), Rb(+)) encapsulated within the cluster core.
  • Observed point group symmetries (C(3i) and C(i)) vary depending on the specific actinide and coordination environment.

Conclusions:

  • The 1,2-phenylenediphosphonate ligand enables the formation of diverse hexanuclear actinide clusters through self-assembly.
  • The size and charge of the encapsulated ions are intrinsically linked to the actinide's ionic radius and the resulting cluster geometry.
  • These findings provide insights into the rational design of actinide-based coordination compounds with tunable properties.