US’ new radioactive molecule find could tackle nuclear waste issue – Interesting Engineering

The molecule’s structure, which closely mirrors that of ‘uranocene,’ resulted in the name ‘berkelocene.a day ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago3 days ago5 minutes ago8 minutes ago12 minutes ago26 minutes agoan hour agoan hour ago2 hours ago2 hours ago3 hours ago5 hours agoAman TripathiThe purple/blue solution in this vial contains crystals of the berkelocene “sandwich.”Alyssa Gaiser/Berkeley LabScientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have synthesized and characterized “berkelocene,” the first organometallic molecule containing the highly radioactive element berkelium.This discovery marks a significant leap in understanding the chemical behavior of heavy actinides and challenges “long-held theories about the chemistry of the elements that follow uranium in the periodic table.”“Interest in actinide–carbon bonds has persisted since actinide organometallics were first investigated for applications in isotope separation during the Manhattan Project,” said the scientists in a new study published in the journal Science.The newly created molecule has been named “berkelocene” due to its structural similarity to “uranocene.” It features a berkelium atom sandwiched between two eight-membered carbon rings.This symmetrical structure was confirmed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments conducted at Berkeley Lab’s Heavy Element Research Laboratory.“This is the first time that evidence for the formation of a chemical bond between berkelium and carbon has been obtained,” remarked Stefan Minasian, a scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Chemical Sciences Division and a co-corresponding author of the study. “The discovery provides new understanding of how berkelium and other actinides behave relative to their peers in the periodic table.”The achievement is notable due to the extreme challenges posed by berkelium. The element was discovered at Berkeley Lab in 1949 by Glenn Seaborg, and it is highly radioactive and produced in minute quantities globally. Moreover, organometallic molecules are air-sensitive and potentially pyrophoric, requiring specialized handling.“Only a few facilities around the world can protect both the compound and the worker while managing the combined hazards of a highly radioactive material that reacts vigorously with the oxygen and moisture in air,” explained Polly Arnold, a co-corresponding author and director of Berkeley Lab’s Chemical Sciences Division.The research team overcame these obstacles by utilizing custom-designed gloveboxes, enabling air-free syntheses with highly radioactive isotopes.“Then, with just 0.3 milligram of berkelium-249, the researchers conducted single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments,” added the team in a press release.Interestingly, an unexpected finding emerged from electronic structure calculations performed by Jochen Autschbach at the University of Buffalo. These calculations revealed that the berkelium atom in berkelocene exhibits a tetravalent oxidation state (+4), stabilized by the berkelium-carbon bonds. This contradicts traditional periodic table expectations, which suggested berkelium would behave more like lanthanide terbium.“Traditional understanding of the periodic table suggests that berkelium would behave like the lanthanide terbium,” highlighted Minasian. “But the berkelium ion is much happier in the +4 oxidation state than the other f-block ions we expected it to be most like,” asserted Arnold.The researchers emphasize that this discovery necessitates the development of more accurate models of actinide behavior across the periodic table. Such models are crucial for addressing critical issues related to long-term nuclear waste storage and remediation.“When scientists study higher symmetry structures, it helps them understand the underlying logic that nature is using to organize matter at the atomic level,” concluded Minasian.Aman Tripathi An active and versatile journalist and news editor. He has covered regular and breaking news for several leading publications and news media, including The Hindu, Economic Times, Tomorrow Makers, and many more. Aman holds expertise in politics, travel, and tech news, especially in AI, advanced algorithms, and blockchain, with a strong curiosity about all things that fall under science and tech.Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.By clicking sign up, you confirm that you accept this site’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy8 hours ago8 hours ago9 hours ago19 hours agoLoading opportunities…PremiumIE PROFollow

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/science/us-new-radioactive-molecule