Physical-chemical studies of transuranium elements: Progress report for the period April 1, 1985-March 31, 1988

New knowledge is being accumulated in the role of the 5f electrons in the bonding in actinide elements and compounds, the relationships of metallic structures to metallic valence and radius, the extent and magnitude of the actinide contraction, the magnetic, thermodynamic, spectroscopic, and crystallographic properties of these materials as related to general theories, the effect of self-irradiation on chemical and physical properties, the chemical and physical consequences of radioactive decay in the bulk-phase solid state, and in general, the range of validity of the actinide hypothesis. Separate reports are given on: spectrophotometric studies of Cf(III) ions in lanthanide trihalide hosts, new ternary transplutonium chalcogenide halides, Raman spectrometric studies of lanthanide trihalides as function of T or P, and solution calorimetry of californium halides