Berkelium

Symbol: Bk

Atomic Number: 97

Atomic Weight: (247)

Berkelium (atomic number 97, symbol Bk) is a synthetic element, named under Berkley in California where the Radiation Laboratory of the University of Carolina is found, in which the element was discovered. Berkelium was discovered after americium, curium, plutonium, and neptunium and belongs to the transuranium and actinide series.

Berkelium is a silvery-white and soft radioactive metal. No practical uses have been found so far, outside of scientific research. Studies are directed at the synthesis of transactinides and transuranic elements. One isotope, berkelium-249 is safe to be handled because it emits low-energy electrons. Its half-life is 330 days after which...Read More