First single crystal structure of actinium shows unexpected coordination behaviour
By 
Kit Chapman2024-07-22T08:30:00
Work will aid novel anti-cancer therapy development and even add to debate of where the element sits on the periodic table
Actinium’s coordination behaviour is significantly different from its homologue lanthanum, the first single crystal x-ray structure for the element has shown, in work that could help pave the way for new cancer therapies.
Despite having been discovered in 1899, actinium remains one of the most mysterious elements – so much so that even its position on the periodic table and whether it should sit in group 3 is still the subject of intense debate. Today, its coordination chemistry is based on work from 1950, which may not be accurate.
However, there is renewed interest in actinium due to its potential as an anti-cancer therapy. This therapy uses the radioactive isotope actinium-225, which is transported through the body to the targeted area. As actinium-225 decays, it emits alpha particles, which then kills cancer cells with minimal toxicity to the patient.