Frontiers of heavy element nuclear and radiochemistry

The production and half-lives of the heaviest chemical elements, now known through Z = 112, are reviewed. Recent experimental evidence for the stabili zation of heavy element isotopes due to proximity to deformed nuclear shell s at Z = 108 and N = 162 is compared with the theoretical predictions. The possible existence of isotopes of elements 107-110 with half-lives of secon ds or longer, and production reactions and experimental techniques for incr easing the overall yields of such isotopes in order to study both their nuc lear and chemical properties are discussed. The present status of studies o f the chemical properties of Rf, Ha, and Sg is briefly summarized and prosp ects for extending chemical studies beyond Sg are considered.