First Study on Nihonium (Nh, Element 113) Chemistry at TASCA

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Quantum Chemistry
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Nihonium (Nh, element 113) and flerovium (Fl, element 114) are superheavy elements with occupied 7p electron shells.
• Relativistic effects significantly influence the electronic structure and predicted chemical properties of these elements.
• Flerovium is predicted to be inert due to a stabilized closed 7p sub-shell, while Nihonium's reactivity is expected due to an unpaired 7p electron.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the chemical reactivity of Nihonium (Nh) in the gas phase.
• To compare the experimentally observed reactivity of Nh with theoretical predictions and with its neighbor Flerovium (Fl).
• To assess the feasibility of studying Nh chemistry using newly developed experimental setups.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical calculations of Nh reactivity.
• Gas-phase chemical studies of Nh.
• Experimental testing of the miniCOMPACT detection device using Francium (Fr) isotopes.

Main Results:

• Experimental observations indicate that Nihonium (Nh) atoms are more chemically reactive than Flerovium (Fl) atoms.
• The findings align with theoretical expectations of Nh's higher reactivity.
• Initial tests of the miniCOMPACT detector with Francium (Fr) suggest its suitability for future Nh studies.

Conclusions:

• Nihonium (Nh) demonstrates higher chemical reactivity compared to Flerovium (Fl).
• Advanced experimental setups are necessary for effective chemical studies of Nihonium.
• The miniCOMPACT detector shows promise for future investigations into the chemistry of superheavy elements like Nihonium.