Berkelium

Berkelium is a synthetic chemical element with the symbol Bk and atomic number 97. It is a radioactive actinide metal that is silvery-gray in appearance. Berkelium is produced by bombarding americium with alpha particles and has applications in scientific research.

Overview

English Name:

Berkelium

Latin Name:

Berkelium

Year Discovered:

1949

Discovered By:

Glenn T. Seaborg, Stanley G. Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, and Kenneth Street Jr.

Group:

Actinides

Period:

7

Electrons:

97

CAS Number:

7440-40-8

Cost Per 100 Grams:

$1,000

Atomic Properties

Electronic Configuration:

[Rn] 5f⁹ 7s²

Ion Charge:

+3, +4

Ionisation Energies:

601.5 kJ/mol

Atomic Radius (Empirical):

201 pm

Atomic Radius (Calculated):

201 pm

Covalent Radius:

N/A

Van Der Waals Radius:

N/A

Ionisation Potential of An Atom:

6.23 eV

Electrons Per Layer:

2, 8, 18, 32, 27, 8, 2

Atomic Multiplicities Of The Gas:

1

Atomic Weight:

247

Oxidation States

+3
+4

Reactivity

Electron Affinity:

+0.5 kJ/mol

Valence:

3, 4

Electronegativity:

N/A

Thermal Properties

Melting Point:

1050°C

Boiling Point:

2900°C

Critical Point:

Pressure: N/A

Temperature: N/A

Thermal Conductivity:

10.0 W/(m·K)

Heat Capacity:

Specific: 0.10 J/(g·K)

Molar: 27.7 J/(mol·K)

Thermal Coefficient:

0.000011

Enthalpy:

Fusion: 11.1 kJ/mol

Vaporisation: 300 kJ/mol

Atomization: 200 kJ/mol

Curie Temperature:

N/A

Neel Temperature:

N/A

Superconductivity Point:

N/A

Physical and Chemical Properties

State of matter (25° C/ 77°F):

Solid

Density:

Solid: 14.78 g/cm³

Molar Volume (Vmol):

16.8 L/mol

Speed of Sound (Vs):

N/A

Hardness:

N/A

Bulk Modulus (K):

N/A

Shear Modulus (G):

N/A

Young's Modulus (E):

N/A

Color:

Silvery-gray

Brinell Hardness (MPa):

N/A

Liquid Density (Kg/m^3):

N/A

Hardness of Mohs:

N/A

Refractive Index:

N/A

Vickers Hardness (MPa):

N/A

Crystal Structure:

Face-centered cubic

Electromagnetic Properties

Electrical Type:

Conductor

Resistivity:

1.0 × 10^-6 Ω·m

Magnetic Type:

Paramagnetic

Superconductivity:

Not applicable

Volume Magnetic Susceptibility:

+1.0 × 10^-5

Mass Magnetic Susceptibility:

+1.5 × 10^-5 m³/kg

Molar Mass Susceptibility:

+2.0 × 10^-5 m³/mol

Electrical Conductivity:

1.0 × 10^6 S/m

Mass (γmass):

3.0 × 10-26 kg

Mass (γmol):

3.0 × 10-23 mol

Volume (γvol):

16.8 L

Grid Parameters

Crystal Structure:

Face-centered cubic

Grid Parameters:

N/A

Attitude:

N/A

Debye Temperature:

N/A

Safety and Precautions

Signal Word:

Danger

Hazard Statements:

H300, H330

Precautionary Statements:

P201, P202, P280, P308 + P313

RTECS Number:

Not available

Risk:

Flammability: Non-flammable
Health Risk: Highly toxic
Reactivity: Unstable
Specific Risk: None

Importance

Main sources:

Plutonium ores

Main Usage:

Scientific research

Nuclear Properties

Radioactive:

Yes

Isotopes:

Bk-247, Bk-248, Bk-249

Neutron Cross Sectional:

0.1 barns

Half Life (s):

1380 years

Lifetime:

Stable

Prevalence

Universe:

0.0000001%

Sun:

0.0000001%

Oceans:

N/A

Humans:

N/A

Earth's Crust:

0.0000002%

Meteorites:

N/A