Does covalency increase or decrease across the actinide series? Implications for minor actinide partitioning.

A covalent chemical bond carries the connotation of overlap of atomic orbitals between bonded atoms, leading to a buildup of the electron density in the internuclear region. Stabilization of the valence 5f orbitals as the actinide series is crossed leads, in compounds of the minor actinides americiu... View More