Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does flerovium compare with lead in predicted chemical behavior?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A color-coded periodic table of the elements displays each element's symbol and atomic number, with categories such as alkali metals, noble gases, halogens, transition metals, and actinoid elements distinguished by different background colors. — carbon group element Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).

Flerovium (element 114) is a member of the carbon group (Group 14) and is often referred to as "eka-lead" due to its predicted chemical similarities to lead.12

The chemical behavior of Group 14 elements is defined by a trend where stability shifts from the +4 (tetrapositive) oxidation state toward the +2 (dipositive) state as atomic number increases. While carbon and silicon are stable in the +4 state, lead is dominated by the +2 state with only weak tetrapositive properties.2

Theoretical calculations and extrapolations suggest that flerovium continues this trend, with a predicted most-stable oxidation state of +2. Despite these similarities, flerovium is expected to exhibit distinct physical properties compared to lead, such as a significantly lower predicted melting point of 70 °C and a boiling point of 150 °C. These predictions are based on computer modeling of valence electron energy levels and thermodynamic data, which substantiate its placement within the periodic table.2