The ionic radii of Rf4+, Db5+and Sg6+

Abstract

Commonly used calculations of ionic radii (IR) based on the correlation between IR and the maximum radial charge density (Rmax,np) give overestimated values for the heaviest elements. That is because the method does not take into account the significant splitting of outermost p orbitals into p1/2and p3/2. Using 2j+1 weighted expectation orbital radii, (rnp), instead of Rmax,np, new values of IR for Rf4+, Db5+and Sg6+have been calculated. These IR values for coordination number 6 are equal to 74 (instead of 79) pm for Rf4+, 66 (instead of 74) pm for Db5+and 63 (instead of 65) pm for Sg6+.