Chemical properties of transfermium elements

The chemical properties of transfermium elements are reviewed. The specific aspects of chemical operation with single atoms briefly discussed. The chemical behaviour of mendelevium, nobelium and lawrencium is similar to that of heaviest actinides. The only difference is the stabilization of +2 oxidation state in Md and No compounds. The chemical properties of the first three transactinide elements were compared with the properties of their lighter congeners in groups 4, 5 and 6 of the periodic table. The experimental results were compared with theoretical calculations. Special attention was paid to the influence of relativistic effects on the properties of the heaviest elements and their compounds. (author)