Indication for a volatile element 114

Recently, the chemical investigation of element 112 revealed a highly volatile, noble metallic behaviour, as expected for the last group 12 member of the periodic table. The observed volatility and chemical inertness were ascribed to the growing influence of relativistic effects on the chemical properties of the heaviest elements with increasing nuclear charge. Here, we report for the first time on gas phase chemical experiments aiming at a determination of element 114 properties. This element was investigated using its isotopes 287114 and 288114 produced in the nuclear fusion reactions of 48Ca with 242Pu and 244Pu, respectively. Identification of three atoms of element 114 in thermochromatography experiments and their deposition pattern on a gold surface indicates that this element is at least as volatile as simultaneously investigated elements Hg, At, and element 112. This behaviour is rather unexpected for a typical metal of group 1

Volcanism and the Upper Mantle: Investigations in the Kurile Island Arc

The present volume seems to me to be a particularly im­ portant one for several reasons. Not least among these is the fact that it summarizes the work of two decades by G. S. Gorshkov, one of the world's leading volcanologists. In addition, it is the first general work of this length on the volcanism of what might be called a "narrow" island arc, a relatively simple megastructure as com­ pared with the "wide" arcs such as Japan and Indonesia. Finally, in this volume Gorshkov has summarized and cited extensive evi­ dence for his general ideas on the relation between volcanism and the earth's crust and mantle. A few potentially troublesome items should be noted here. In the translation the Russian terms "suite" and "series" have been retained, though for American readers these might better have been translated as "formation" and "group. " In almost all cases Russian place names have simply been transliterated rather than translated (e. g. , "Yuzhnyi Isthmus" rather than "South Isthmus"); in a few cases the English equivalent has been given in brackets where this is essential to the understanding of the author's com­ ments. The adjectives have retained their Russian case endings in the process (masculine -yi or -ii, feminine -aya or -'ya, neuter -oe) and this may occasionally lead to some slight confusion, for example, when the author calls a given feature Severnyi Volcano at one point and Severnaya Mountain at another