californium (Cf)

A radioactive, metallic element of the actinide series, and also a transuranic element, first made in 1950 at the University of California at Berkeley by alpha particle bombardment of the curium isotope ²⁴²Cu. Californium presents biological dangers because one microgram releases 170 million neutrons a minute. Of numerous isotopes that have been synthesized, the most stable isotope is ²⁴⁴Cf (half-life 800 yr). Atomic number 98.

Related category

• INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Also on this site:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History

BACK TO TOP