The ionic radius of actinium(III) may be far smaller and closer to the lanthanides than the most recent measurements from the 1950s and 70s suggest, a review by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, US, has found. This could have potential ramifications for cancer therapies.

Actinium was discovered by French chemist André-Louis Debierne in 1899. But it exists in such small quantities naturally – usually found as a consequence from the radioactive decay of heavier elements – so it can’t be extracted and used in experiments. Instead, researchers rely on actinium created in nuclear reactors. Even so, the element is often in short supply, with only microgram quantities available to a handful of teams around the world..

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Source: Chemistry World