Molecular cages could uncover element 114’s true chemical nature

Periodic table showing position of flerovium

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Flerovium-capturing sulfur cages could finally reveal where in the periodic table the superheavy element belongs

‘Flerovium might not belong [where it currently sits in the periodic table], so in other words Mendeleev’s table is no longer true,’ says chemist John Despotopulos. His team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, US, wants to capture the superheavy element in a molecular cage to finally settle questions about its chemical nature.