Gas phase chemical properties of transactinides

Early gas thermochromatography experiments performed in Dubna by Zvara et al. have given evidence for a behavior of element 104 and 105 halides as expected on the basis of their position in the periodic table of elements. Recent theoretical predictions have renewed the interest in such studies and caused a need for new experiments with better statistics and higher resolution in the retention data. Using the OLGA technique (on-line gas chemistry apparatus), the volatility of element 104 and 105 bromides and chlorides were recently studied at Berkeley. In addition, for the same systems the Dubna group performed additional experiments with the thermochromatography technique. The results are summarized and confronted with recent theoretical predictions. An outlook to possible future gas chemistry experiments with element 106 is made