The Expansion of the Periodic Table to Its Natural Limits

Andreas Türler

doi:10.2533/chimia.2019.173

The Expansion of the Periodic Table to Its Natural Limits

Authors

Andreas Türler Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern ;, Email: andreas.tuerler@dcb.unibe.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2019.173

PMID:

30890212

Keywords:

Heavy element synthesis, Periodic table, Single atom chemistry, Superheavy elements, Transactinides

Abstract

One hundred and fifty years after its conception the periodic table of the elements contains 118 members with the 7th period being completely filled. This raises the question of what are the natural limits of the periodic table and whether yet undiscovered elements can be synthesized. Nowadays the alchemists' dream of producing new elements from already known ones has become reality. However, only single, short-lived atoms can be produced and investigated. The current article will give insights into the state of the art concerning the synthesis and chemical investigation of heavy and superheavy elements and discuss limits to the further expansion of the periodic table to even heavier elements in the 8th period.