The Chemical Separation of Eka-Hg from CERN W Targets in view of Recent Relativistic Calculations

In 1971 evidence for the production of element 112 via secondary reactions in CERN W targets was obtained. The evidence was mainly based on the observation of fission fragments in Hg sources separated from the W targets, on the measured masses of the fissioning nuclei and on the assumption that element 112 (Eka-Hg) actually behaves like Hg in the chemical separation process. This assumption is analyzed in view of recent relativistic calculations of the electronic structure of element 112. It is shown that in the superheavy element region only the chemistry of element 112 is similar to that of Hg.