Probing precipitation properties

Superheavy elements are short-lived and only available on a single-atom level, making their chemical properties very challenging to study. Now, through their co-precipitation with samarium, single atoms of rutherfordium have been shown to form hydroxide complexes but not ammine ones.

Automated summary

Superheavy elements have unique chemical properties that are difficult to study, but recent research has shown that rutherfordium can form hydroxide complexes when co-precipitated with samarium.