Californium

Californium is a synthetic radioactive metallic element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. It is an actinide element, the sixth transuranium element to be synthesized, and has the second-highest atomic mass of all the elements that have been produced in amounts large enough to see with the naked eye (after einsteinium). Californium is used in neutron sources, neutron radiography, and for detection of lead in paint.

Overview

English Name:

Californium

Latin Name:

Californium

Year Discovered:

1950

Discovered By:

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

Group:

Actinides

Period:

7

Electrons:

98

CAS Number:

7440-71-3

Cost Per 100 Grams:

$10,000,000

Atomic Properties

Electronic Configuration:

[Rn] 5f¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁶

Ion Charge:

+3

Ionisation Energies:

608.2 kJ/mol

Atomic Radius (Empirical):

186 pm

Atomic Radius (Calculated):

196 pm

Covalent Radius:

N/A

Van Der Waals Radius:

N/A

Ionisation Potential of An Atom:

6.32 eV

Electrons Per Layer:

2, 8, 18, 32, 28, 8, 2

Atomic Multiplicities Of The Gas:

1

Atomic Weight:

251

Oxidation States

+3

Reactivity

Electron Affinity:

+0.5 kJ/mol

Valence:

3

Electronegativity:

N/A

Thermal Properties

Melting Point:

900°C

Boiling Point:

1745°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: 28.3 J/(mol·K)

Thermal Coefficient:

0.000010

Enthalpy:

Fusion: 8.0 kJ/mol

Vaporisation: 170 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: 15.1 g/cm³

Molar Volume (Vmol):

16.6 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

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):

16.6 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:

Neutron sources, neutron radiography

Nuclear Properties

Radioactive:

Yes

Isotopes:

Cf-249, Cf-250, Cf-251, Cf-252

Neutron Cross Sectional:

0.1 barns

Half Life (s):

351 years

Lifetime:

Stable

Prevalence

Universe:

0.0000001%

Sun:

0.0000001%

Oceans:

N/A

Humans:

N/A

Earth's Crust:

0.0000002%

Meteorites:

N/A