What are facts about the element californium?
What are some interesting facts about the element Californium?
- Atomic number (number of protons in the nucleus): 98
- Atomic symbol (on the periodic table of the elements): Cf
- Atomic weight (average mass of the atom): 251
- Density: Unknown
- Phase at room temperature: Solid
- Melting point: 1,652 F (900 C)
- Boiling point: Unknown
Where does the element californium come from?
Californium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. The element was first synthesized in 1950 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (then the University of California Radiation Laboratory), by bombarding curium with alpha particles (helium-4 ions).It is an actinide element, the sixth transuranium element to be synthesized, and has the second-highest ...
Where did the element name californium come from?
Californium. Californium is named for the university and state of California, where the element was first made. A vertical column in the periodic table. Members of a group typically have similar properties and electron configurations in their outer shell. A horizontal row in the periodic table.
What element family does californium belong to?
The chemical element californium is classed as an actinide metal. It was discovered in 1950 by Stanley Thompson, Kenneth Street, Albert Ghiorso and Glenn Seaborg. The spectrum of californium-254 has been recorded in supernovae. Image by NASA/CXC/MIT/UMass Amherst/M.D. Stage et al.
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What type of metal is californium?
actinideCalifornium is a synthetic, radioactive element not found in nature. It is an actinide: one of 15 radioactive, metallic elements found at the bottom of the periodic table. The pure metal is silvery-white, malleable and so soft it can be easily sliced with a razor blade. Californium is moderately chemically reactive.
Is californium a metal?
Californium is a radioactive metal. Californium is a very strong neutron emitter. It is used in portable metal detectors, for identifying gold and silver ores, to identify water and oil layers in oil wells and to detect metal fatigue and stress in aeroplanes. Californium has no known biological role.
What elements are in californium?
Californium can also be used in nuclear synthesis of higher mass elements; oganesson (element 118) was synthesized by bombarding californium-249 atoms with calcium-48 ions....CaliforniumElectrons per shell2, 8, 18, 32, 28, 8, 2Physical propertiesPhase at STPsolidMelting point1173 K (900 °C, 1652 °F)29 more rows
What is the Group of californium?
Californium (Cf) is a radio metallic chemical element with atomic number 98 and is a member of the actinide group of the periodic table, discovered by G.T Seaborg in the year 1950.
Is californium used in bombs?
Californium is used in the manufacture of the nuclear bomb but is also used in running a nuclear plant. This material was synthesised for the first time, in 1950, in the California University.
Is californium an element?
californium (Cf), synthetic chemical element of the actinoid series of the periodic table, atomic number 98.
What does californium mean?
Definition of californium : a radioactive chemical element with atomic number 98 that is produced artificially from the decay of berkelium and that is used chiefly as a neutron source in radiography and to start nuclear reactors — see Chemical Elements Table.
What is californium worth?
A gram of californium-252 can cost $27 million per gram, which makes it considerably more expensive than lutetium, but less than francium.
What are three interesting facts about californium?
Fun fact about Californium: Californium is a malleable and so soft a metal that it can be sliced with a razor blade. Its spectrum has been observed in supernova. 22 g of Californium cost 22 million pounds-one of the most expensive substances in the world. Chemical symbol: Cf.
Is neptunium a metal nonmetal or metalloid?
Neptunium is a hard, silvery, ductile, radioactive actinide metal. In the periodic table, it is located to the right of the actinide uranium, to the left of the actinide plutonium and below the lanthanide promethium. Neptunium is a hard metal, having a bulk modulus of 118 GPa, comparable to that of manganese.
Why californium is so expensive?
Since it decays so quickly, it is hard to acquire, making it the most expensive metal on Earth. Why its Valuable ? Californium is a rare and expensive element, with radioactive, dangerous and difficult handling situations. Each year, only a half-gram of Californium is produced, escalating its demand and prices.
Is einsteinium a metal?
Einsteinium is a member of the actinide series, it is metallic and radioactive, with no known uses. It is attacked by oxygen, steam and acids but not by alkalis. It is named after Albert Einstein. It was the seventh transuranic element to be discovered.
How expensive is californium?
$27 million per gramCalifornium is another radioactive element, used primarily in research and in instruments employed in the petroleum industry. A gram of californium-252 can cost $27 million per gram, which makes it considerably more expensive than lutetium, but less than francium.
Who buys californium?
Key Takeaways. In South America region, Brazil and Argentina are the major emerging market for the Californium owing to growing industrialization and developing healthcare sector. The outbreak of COVID-19 is also considered as the major restraining factor to the market growth over the forecast period.
Californium is the member of__________.
Actinide series
Write about californium.
Californium (Cf) is a radio metallic chemical element with atomic number 98 and is a member of the actinide group of the periodic table, discovered...
What is the electronic configuration of californium?
The electronic configuration of californium is [Rn] 5f 10 7s 2 .
What are the isotopes of californium?
Californium has its key isotopes 249 Cf and 252 Cf.
What is the atomic number of Californium?
Californium, 98Cf. double hexagonal close-packed (dhcp) Californium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98 . The element was first synthesized in 1950 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (then the University of California Radiation Laboratory), by bombarding curium with alpha particles ( helium-4 ions ).
What is the symbol for Californium?
talk. edit. | references. Californium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. The element was first synthesized in 1950 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (then the University of California Radiation Laboratory), by bombarding curium with alpha particles ( helium-4 ions ).
What is the role of caliornium in the body?
Californium that bioaccumulates in skeletal tissue releases radiation that disrupts the body's ability to form red blood cells. The element plays no natural biological role in any organism due to its intense radioactivity and low concentration in the environment.
What is the heaviest element ever synthesized?
In October 2006, researchers announced that three atoms of oganesson (element 118) had been identified at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, as the product of bombardment of californium-249 with calcium-48, making it the heaviest element ever synthesized.
What is the use of californium 252?
The major uses of californium-252 in 1982 were, in order of use, reactor start-up (48.3%), fuel rod scanning (25.3%), and activation analysis (19.4%). By 1994, most californium-252 was used in neutron radiography (77.4%), with fuel rod scanning (12.1%) and reactor start-up (6.9%) as important but distant secondary uses.
How long does it take for californium to go away?
Half of the californium deposited in the skeleton and liver are gone in 50 and 20 years, respectively. Californium in the skeleton adheres to bone surfaces before slowly migrating throughout the bone. The element is most dangerous if taken into the body.
What is californium 250 made of?
Californium-250 is made by bombarding berkelium-249 ( 249. Bombardment of californium-250 with neutrons produces californium-251 and californium-252. Prolonged irradiation of americium, curium, and plutonium with neutrons produces milligram amounts of californium-252 and microgram amounts of californium-249.
What is the atomic number of californium?
Californium (Cf), synthetic chemical element of the actinoid series of the periodic table, atomic number 98 . Not occurring in nature, californium (as the isotope californium-245) was discovered (1950) by American chemists Stanley G.
When was californium discovered?
Not occurring in nature, californium (as the isotopecalifornium-245) was discovered (1950) by American chemists Stanley G. Thompson, Kenneth Street, Jr., Albert Ghiorso, and Glenn T. Seaborgat the University of California, Berkeley, as a product resulting from the helium-ionbombardment of curium-242 (atomic number 96) in the 152-cm (60-inch) cyclotron, followed by chemical separation from other elements by chromatography. The element was named after the state of California, where it was discovered.
How many neutrons does a microgram of Californium 252 release?
One microgram releases 170,000,000 neutrons per minute .
Which metal has the same crystal structure as lanthanoids?
berkelium, and californium metal s have the same crystal structure, as do many of the lanthanoids. Einsteinium, the heaviest actinoid element with sufficiently stable isotopes for macroscopic-scale chemical work, has the same structure as the lanthanoid europium. Several of the lighter actinoid elements from thorium…
How many elements are in the periodic table?
The periodic table is made up of 118 elements. How well do you know their symbols? In this quiz you’ll be shown all 118 chemical symbols, and you’ll need to choose the name of the chemical element that each one represents.
What is chemical element?
Chemical element, any substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes. Elements are the fundamental materials of which all matter is composed. This article considers the origin of the elements and their abundances throughout the universe. The geochemical distribution of these elementary substances in…
What is an actinoid element?
actinoid element, any of a series of 15 consecutive chemical elements in the periodic table from actinium to lawr encium (atomic numbers 89–103). As a group, they are significant largely because of their radioactivity. Although several members of the group, including uranium (the most familiar), occur naturally,…
What is Californium?
Californium (Cf) is a radio metallic chemical element with atomic number 98 and is a member of actinide group of periodic table, discovered by G.T Seaborg in the year 1950.
What is the purpose of californium?
It is employed to treat many brain and cervical cancers.
Which compound is a strong emitter of neutrons?
There are many compounds of it that exhibit different kinds of properties, for example, Californium – 252 is a very strong emitter of neutrons.
Is Californium radioactive?
Certain Health effects of Californium. Biological use of the element is not yet found. As a few compounds of it are extremely radioactive, it is considered to be hazardous to health.
What elements react with californium?
Californium readily reacts with nitrogen, hydrogen and chalcogens. It also dissolves in mineral acids and the reaction is fast.
What is californium used for?
Californium is used as trigger for nuclear reactors. It is used as neutron source for research and study purposes. Californium is used to synthesize various high mass elements, for instance oganesson was synthesized by bombarding calcium ions on californium-249 atoms.
What is the eighth transuranic element?
Fermium. Fermium is the eighth transuranic element first discovered in 1952 at the debris of the…. Tennessine. Tennessine is a synthetic element that was discovered in 2010. It is highly radioactive and…. Nobelium. Nobelium is a synthetic transuranic element that was discovered in 1996. It is a highly….
How was Californium prepared?
It was prepared by bombarding curium with helium-4 ions (alpha particles). Californium is considered as the second element that has been produced in large enough amount to be seen with naked eyes. It is the sixth trans-uranium element (element with atomic number greater than 92), that has been synthesized.
What is the name of the element that is radioactive?
Californium. Californium is a radioactive element and was synthesized for the first time in 1950. It is used to produce other heavier elements, such as oganesson. It is highly radioactive and requires proper handling to avoid hazardous health effects.
What is the melting point of californium?
The boiling point of californium is predicted to be around 1470°C and its melting point is expected to be around 900°C. In its pure form, californium is quite soft and malleable, as it can be easily cut with a knife. When exposed to high temperature (above 300°C in vacuum), it is transformed into vapor state. Californium is insoluble in water.
When was Californium first discovered?
Californium was first synthesized by team of researchers, including Albert Ghiorso, Thompson Kenneth Street, Glenn T and Stanley Thompson, working at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1950 [1]. It was prepared by bombarding curium with helium-4 ions (alpha particles).
What is the atomic number of Californium?
Californium is a chemical element with symbol Cf and atomic number 98. Classified as a n actinide, Californium is a solid at room temperature. H.
Where does Californium come from?
Californium does not occur naturally in the Earth’s crust. It was first synthesized in 1950 by Glenn T. Seaborg and his team at the University of California using the reaction 242 Cm ( 4 He, n) 245 Cf. The element was named for the state where it was first synthesized.
How many neutrons does Californium 252 produce?
One microgram (0.000001 grams) of californium-252 produces 170,000,000 neutrons per minute. It is being used as a neutron source to identify gold and silver ores through a technique known as neutron activation.
Where is Californium 252 produced?
Microgram quantities of californium have been produced in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee and in Dimitrovgrad high-flux reactors in Russia. Californium-252 is a very strong neutron emitter.
What type of explosion produces californium?
It has been suggested that californium may be produced in certain stellar explosions, called supernovae, for the radioactive decay of 254 Cf (55-day half-life) agrees with the characteristics of the light curves of such explosions observed through telescopes. This suggestion, however, is questioned.
How long does californium live?
Californium's most stable isotope, californium-251, has a half-life of about 898 years. It decays into curium-247 through alpha decay or decays through spontaneous fission.
What are some compounds made of californium?
Californium compounds include oxides, halides, oxyhalides, pnictides, chacogenides hydrides, tellurides, oxysulfate and oxysulfide to name a few.
What is Californium Used For?
Although 20 isotopes of californium have been identified and characterized, most of them have issues that limit their applicability.
What is the melting point of californium?
Exists in a solid phase at room temperature. Exhibits a melting point of 900 °C (1,652 °F) and an estimated boiling point of 1,470 °C (2,678 °F) Californium-252 is the most commonly used isotope of californium, particularly when it comes to nuclear and industrial applications (see next section for more details).
How many neutrons does a microgram of californium produce?
Just a single microgram of californium can produce approximately 170 million neutrons per minute. This unusual property makes it highly radioactive and a potential biological hazard. If handled properly, however, this strong radioactivity is a valuable trait for specific applications. (Click to Expand)
How long does Californium 252 last?
Californium-252 has a half-life of 2.645 years, and it is also the only isotope that spontaneously emits neutrons. Because it is such a strong neutron emitter, californium-252 should be handled with extreme caution to avoid health hazards.
What is the purpose of the neutrons in Californium 252?
Medical. In the medical field, the neutrons released by californium-252 can be used to target certain cancer tumors when other radiation treatments have failed.
How long does it take to make Californium 252?
The production process of californium-252 takes almost two years to complete from start to finish. Transportation costs. Because this isotope is highly radioactive, it requires the construction of specialized Type A shipping containers to protect the contents from damage during the shipping process.
Is Californium 252 a naturally occurring element?
Californium-252 is not a naturally occurring element and can only be produced in a high flux isotope reactor. Worldwide there are only two nuclear reactors capable of producing Cf-252: High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and SMR3 at RIAR, Russia. Production costs.
What is the mass number of Californium?
Mass numbers of typical isotopes of Californium are 248-254.
What is the radius of a Californium atom?
The atomic radius of Californium atom is –pm (covalent radius).
How many protons does caliornium have?
Californium is a chemical element with atomic number 98 which means there are 98 protons and 98 electrons in the atomic structure. The chemical symbol for Californium is Cf.
How are the chemical properties of a solid, liquid, gas, and plasma determined?
The chemical properties of the atom are determined by the number of protons, in fact, by number and arrangement of electrons. The configuration of these electrons follows from the principles of quantum mechanics. The number of electrons in each element’s electron shells, particularly the outermost valence shell, is the primary factor in determining its chemical bonding behavior. In the periodic table, the elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number Z.
What is the density of a substance?
Since the density (ρ) of a substance is the total mass (m) of that substance divided by the total volume (V) occupied by that substance, it is obvious, the density of a substance strongly depends on its atomic mass and also on the atomic number density (N; atoms/cm 3 ),
What is the lightest element on the periodic table?
With a standard atomic weight of circa 1.008, hydrogen is the lightest element on the periodic table. Its monatomic form (H) is the most abundant chemical substance in the Universe, constituting roughly 75% of all baryonic mass.
Why does a liquid have a higher potential energy than a solid?
This means energy must be supplied to a solid in order to melt it and energy is released from a liquid when it freezes, because the molecules in the liquid experience weaker intermolecular forces and so have a higher potential energy (a kind of bond-dissociation energy for intermolecular forces).
Overview
Californium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. The element was first synthesized in 1950 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (then the University of California Radiation Laboratory), by bombarding curium with alpha particles (helium-4 ions). It is an actinide element, the sixth transuranium element to be synthesized, and has the second-highest a…
Characteristics
Californium is a silvery-white actinide metal with a melting point of 900 ± 30 °C (1,650 ± 50 °F) and an estimated boiling point of 1,745 K (1,470 °C; 2,680 °F). The pure metal is malleable and is easily cut with a razor blade. Californium metal starts to vaporize above 300 °C (570 °F) when exposed to a vacuum. Below 51 K (−222 °C; −368 °F) californium metal is either ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic (it acts like a magnet), between 48 and 66 K it is antiferromagnetic (an intermediat…
History
Californium was first made at University of California Radiation Laboratory, Berkeley, by physics researchers Stanley Gerald Thompson, Kenneth Street Jr., Albert Ghiorso, and Glenn T. Seaborg, about February 9, 1950. It was the sixth transuranium element to be discovered; the team announced its discovery on March 17, 1950.
Occurrence
Traces of californium can be found near facilities that use the element in mineral prospecting and in medical treatments. The element is fairly insoluble in water, but it adheres well to ordinary soil; and concentrations of it in the soil can be 500 times higher than in the water surrounding the soil particles.
Nuclear fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing prior to 1980 contributed a small amo…
Production
Californium is produced in nuclear reactors and particle accelerators. Californium-250 is made by bombarding berkelium-249 ( 97Bk ) with neutrons, forming berkelium-250 ( 97Bk ) via neutron capture (n,γ) which, in turn, quickly beta decays (β ) to californium-250 ( 98Cf ) in the following reaction:
97Bk (n,γ) 97Bk → 98Cf + β
Californium is produced in nuclear reactors and particle accelerators. Californium-250 is made by bombarding berkelium-249 ( 97Bk ) with neutrons, forming berkelium-250 ( 97Bk ) via neutron capture (n,γ) which, in turn, quickly beta decays (β ) to californium-250 ( 98Cf ) in the following reaction:
97Bk (n,γ) 97Bk → 98Cf + β
Applications
Californium-252 has a number of specialized uses as a strong neutron emitter; it produces 139 million neutrons per microgram per minute. This property makes it useful as a startup neutron source for some nuclear reactors and as a portable (non-reactor based) neutron source for neutron activation analysis to detect trace amounts of elements in samples. Neutrons from californium are used a…
Precautions
Californium that bioaccumulates in skeletal tissue releases radiation that disrupts the body's ability to form red blood cells. The element plays no natural biological role in any organism due to its intense radioactivity and low concentration in the environment.
Californium can enter the body from ingesting contaminated food or drinks or by breathing air with suspended particles of the element. Once in the body, only 0.05% of the californium will rea…
Notes
1. ^ The Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, and the extent of natural neutron emission within it that could produce californium from more stable elements is extremely limited.
2. ^ A double hexagonal close-packed (dhcp) unit cell consists of two hexagonal close-packed structures that share a common hexagonal plane, giving dhcp an ABACABAC sequence.
Occurrence
Physical Characteristics
- Californium is a whitish silver metal that belongs to the lanthanide metal series of the periodic table. Californium has three allotropic forms that vary according to pressure. The boiling point of californium is predicted to be around 1470°C and its melting point is expected to be around 900°C. In its pure form, californium is quite soft and malle...
Chemical Characteristics
- Californium reacts slowly with oxygen and air and tarnishes at room temperature. The most common oxidation state of californium is +3. Chemically, californium resembles dysprosium and other elements of the actinide series that have +3 oxidation state. Californium readily reacts with nitrogen, hydrogen and chalcogens. It also dissolves in mineral acids and the reaction is fast.
Significance and Uses
- Californium is used as trigger for nuclear reactors.
- It is used as neutron source for research and study purposes.
- Californium is used to synthesize various high mass elements, for instance oganesson was synthesized by bombarding calcium ions on californium-249 atoms.
Health Hazards
- Californium is a biohazardous element as its radioactivity can cause serious consequences. The radiological effects of californium can lead to destruction of red bloods . The gamma emission of californium-251 can lead to liver and bone cancer.
Isotopes of Californium
- There are twenty known isotopes of californium, with atomic masses ranging from 237 to 256 . And the most stable is californium-251 that has a half-life of 898 years. Californium-252 is the most widely produced and used isotope, and it has a half-life of 2.64 years. It emits neutrons with great intensity and have the highest radioactivity among all other isotopes of californium. Califor…