Heavy atoms and their compounds are important in many areas of modern technology. Their versatility in the reactions they undergo is the reason that they can be found in most homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Their magnetism is the decisive property that qualifies them as materials for modern storage devices.
The phenomena observed in compounds of heavy atoms such as phosphorescence, magnetism or the tendency for high valency in chemical reactions can to a large extent be traced back to relativistic effects in their electronic structure. Thus, in many aspects relativistic...