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The first edition of this work appeared almost thirty years ago,
when, as we can see in retrospect, the study of the actinide
elements was in its first bloom. Although the broad features of the
chemistry of the actinide elements were by then quite well
delineated, the treatment of the subject in the first edition was
of necessity largely descriptive in nature. A detailed
understanding of the chemical consequences of the characteristic
presence of Sf electrons in most of the members of the actinide
series was still for the future, and many of the systematic
features of the actinide elements were only dimly apprehended. In
the past thirty years all this has changed. The application of new
spectroscopic techniques, which came into general use during this
period, and new theoretical insights, which came from a better
understanding of chemical bonding, inorganic chemistry, and solid
state phenomena, were among the important factors that led to a
great expansion and maturation in actinide element research and a
large number of new and important findings. The first edition
consisted of a serial description of the individual actinide
elements, with a single chapter devoted to the six heaviest
elements (lawrencium, the heaviest actinide, was yet to be
discovered). Less than 15 % of the text was devoted to a
consideration of the systematics of the actinide elements.
The. first edition of this work appeared almost thirty years ago,
when, as we can see in retrospect, the study of the actinide
elements was in its first bloom. Although the broad features of the
chemistry of the actinide elements were by then quite weil
delineated, the treatment of the subject in the first edition was
of necessity largely descriptive in nature. A detailed
understanding ofthe chemical consequences of the characteristic
presence of 5f electrons in most of the members ofthe actinide se
ries was still for the future, and many ofthe systematic features
ofthe actinide elements were only dimly apprehended. In the past
thirty years all this has changed. The application of new
spectroscopic techniques, which came into general use during this
period, and new theoretical insights, which came from a better
understanding of chemical bonding, inorganic chemistry, and solid
state phenomena, were among the important factors that led to a
great expansion and maturation in actinide element research and a
large number of new and important findings. The first edition
consisted of aserial description of the individual actinide
elements, with a single chapter devoted to the six heaviest
elements (lawrencium, the heaviest actinide, was yet to be
discovered). Less than 15 % of the text was devoted to a
consideration of the systematics of the actinide elements.
The history of the rare earths has entered its third century; trans
uranium elements are now a half century old. Both the lanthanide
and actinide ele- ments, 30 elements altogether, are f elements,
meaninj that their metallic 2 1 1 electronic configurations are
typically 6s 5d 4f" and 7s 6d 5f" respectively. To an elementary
approximation as summarized in the 'average inorganic chemistry
textbook, these configurations cause their chemistry to be
described by the trivalent state accompanied by less interesting
effects such as the lanthanide contraction. However, the discovery
of divalent and tetravalent lanthanides and di- to seven-valent
actinides hinted at the existence of more interesting although
still classic solid-state and coor- dination chemistry. Metallic
halides and chalcogenides and electron-poor cluster compounds have
been the outgrowth of many synthetic efforts during the past 25
years or so. These days, one can say that the lan- thanides and
actinides are not at all boring; the fascination arises from every
element being an individual, having its own chemistry.
The history of the rare earths has entered its third century; trans
uranium elements are now a half century old. Both the lanthanide
and actinide ele- ments, 30 elements altogether, are f elements,
meaninj that their metallic 2 1 1 electronic configurations are
typically 6s 5d 4f" and 7s 6d 5f" respectively. To an elementary
approximation as summarized in the 'average inorganic chemistry
textbook, these configurations cause their chemistry to be
described by the trivalent state accompanied by less interesting
effects such as the lanthanide contraction. However, the discovery
of divalent and tetravalent lanthanides and di- to seven-valent
actinides hinted at the existence of more interesting although
still classic solid-state and coor- dination chemistry. Metallic
halides and chalcogenides and electron-poor cluster compounds have
been the outgrowth of many synthetic efforts during the past 25
years or so. These days, one can say that the lan- thanides and
actinides are not at all boring; the fascination arises from every
element being an individual, having its own chemistry.
The. first edition of this work appeared almost thirty years ago,
when, as we can see in retrospect, the study of the actinide
elements was in its first bloom. Although the broad features of the
chemistry of the actinide elements were by then quite weil
delineated, the treatment of the subject in the first edition was
of necessity largely descriptive in nature. A detailed
understanding ofthe chemical consequences of the characteristic
presence of 5f electrons in most of the members ofthe actinide se
ries was still for the future, and many ofthe systematic features
ofthe actinide elements were only dimly apprehended. In the past
thirty years all this has changed. The application of new
spectroscopic techniques, which came into general use during this
period, and new theoretical insights, which came from a better
understanding of chemical bonding, inorganic chemistry, and solid
state phenomena, were among the important factors that led to a
great expansion and maturation in actinide element research and a
large number of new and important findings. The first edition
consisted of aserial description of the individual actinide
elements, with a single chapter devoted to the six heaviest
elements (lawrencium, the heaviest actinide, was yet to be
discovered). Less than 15 % of the text was devoted to a
consideration of the systematics of the actinide elements.
The first edition of this work appeared almost thirty years ago,
when, as we can see in retrospect, the study of the actinide
elements was in its first bloom. Although the broad features of the
chemistry of the actinide elements were by then quite well
delineated, the treatment of the subject in the first edition was
of necessity largely descriptive in nature. A detailed
understanding of the chemical consequences of the characteristic
presence of Sf electrons in most of the members of the actinide
series was still for the future, and many of the systematic
features of the actinide elements were only dimly apprehended. In
the past thirty years all this has changed. The application of new
spectroscopic techniques, which came into general use during this
period, and new theoretical insights, which came from a better
understanding of chemical bonding, inorganic chemistry, and solid
state phenomena, were among the important factors that led to a
great expansion and maturation in actinide element research and a
large number of new and important findings. The first edition
consisted of a serial description of the individual actinide
elements, with a single chapter devoted to the six heaviest
elements (lawrencium, the heaviest actinide, was yet to be
discovered). Less than 15 % of the text was devoted to a
consideration of the systematics of the actinide elements.
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