The Element Berkelium


Berkelium is a synthetic element produced by bombarding americium and alpha particles. It is named after the city of Berkley, California and is known as a radioactive metallic element belonging to the actinide series.

Just as curium, berkelium too tends to become a health hazard because it has a tendency to accumulate in the skeleton system. While there have not been discoveries of many of berkelium varieties, its industrial uses are unknown up to date.

Atomic Number & Chemical Properties


Element Basics:

Chemical Symbol: Cf
Atomic Number: 98
Atomic Weight: 251.0796
Element Classification: Radioactive Rare Earth Element (Actinide Series)
Discovered By: G.T.Seaborg, S.G.Tompson, A.Ghiorso, K.Street Jr.
Date of Discovery: 1950 (United States)
Origin of Name: Named after the state and University of California.

How to Recognize it at a Party:

Powerful neutron emitter

Seriously Atomic Information:

Density (g/cc): 15.1
Melting Point (°K): 900
Boiling Point (°K): n/a
Atomic Radius (pm): 295
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): n/a
Covalent Radius (pm): n/a
Ionic Radius: n/a
Pauling Negativity Number: 1.3
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): (610)
Oxidation States: 4, 3
Electronic Configuration: [Rn] 5f10 7s2

Getting Intimate with Berkelium:

Lattice Structure: n/a
Lattice Constant (Å): n/a
Lattice C/A Ratio: n/a
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): n/a
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): n/a
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): n/a
Thermal Conductivity (@25°C W/m K):
Debye Temperature (°K): n/a


Society's Questions About Berkelium:

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The following list shows the most common online questions about the element Berkelium. Are your questions the same or different from everyone else's?

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