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Superheavy element research has been a strong pillar of the research program at GSI Darmstadt since its foundation. Six new elements were discovered along with many new isotopes. Initial results on chemical properties of the heaviest elements were obtained that allowed for comparing their behavior with that of their lighter homologs and with theoretical predictions. Main achievements of the past five decades of superheavy element research at GSI are described along with an outlook into the future of superheavy element research in Darmstadt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great progress has been achieved in the last few decades in the synthesis of superheavy elements (SHEs) and experimental studies of their physio-chemical properties. At the same time, remarkable developments in the relativistic electronic structure theory allowed for accurate predictions of properties of SHEs and their compounds. Those theoretical investigations, often carried out in a close link to the experimental research, have largely contributed to better understanding of the chemistry of these elements and the role of relativistic eVects. In this short review, recent achievements in the research activities on SHEs are overviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical chemical studies demonstrated crucial importance of relativistic effects in the physics and chemistry of superheavy elements (SHEs). Performed, with many of them, in a close link to the experimental research, those investigations have shown that relativistic effects determine periodicities in physical and chemical properties of the elements in the chemical groups and rows of the Periodic Table beyond the 6th one. They could, however, also lead to some deviations from the established trends, so that the predictive power of the Periodic Table in this area may be lost. Results of those studies are overviewed here, with comparison to the recent experimental investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the developments in the synthesis, chemical characterization, and theoretical studies of the heaviest elements. It outlines history of the discovery of transuranium elements including actinides and transactinides. It informs about two gas chromatographic separation techniques, which are, isothermal chromatography and thermochromatography, for the experimental investigation of volatile transactinide elements.