Rutherfordium (Rf)

Unknown

Rutherfordium is the first transactinide element, with chemistry resembling hafnium despite being much heavier, and with [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s², rutherfordium's longest-lived isotope (Rf-267) has a half-life of 1.3 hours. Relativistic effects expand its 6d orbitals, causing its chemistry to deviate from group 4 trends.

Key metrics

Density17g/cm³predicted

Melting point2,400Kpredicted

Boiling point5,800Kpredicted

Electronegativity1.3Paulingpredicted

Discovery

1964discovered

Discovered by: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
Reactivity profile: Short-lived radioactive metal
Reactivity: Medium
Bonding: Metallic

Electron configuration

\textcolor{#6b7280}{[Rn]}\; \textcolor{#a855f7}{5_{f}^{14}}\; \textcolor{#22c55e}{6_{d}^{2}}\; \textcolor{#ef4444}{7_{s}^{2}}

[Rn] 5f14 6d2 7s2

Wave function

\Psi_{\text{Rf}} \approx \frac{1}{\sqrt{104!}} \det \left| \chi_1(\mathbf{r}_1) \dots \chi_{104}(\mathbf{r}_{104}) \right|

Probability density $|\Psi|^2$ across the Rf valence shell.

Crystal structure

Hexagonal Close-Packed

Lattice constantsa 1.00 · b 1.00 · c 1.63

Cell anglesα 90° · β 90° · γ 120°

Coordination number12

Atoms per cell2

Atomic packing factor0.74

Physical properties

Atomic radius: 157 pmpredicted
Ionization energy: 580 kJ/molpredicted
Electron affinity: 0 kJ/molpredicted
Crystal structure: Hexagonal close-packed (predicted)

Oxidation statespredicted

Acid/base

Basic

Strongly acidicStrongly basic

State at 25 °CSolid

2400 K5800 K298 K

predicted