A

David

Darling

berkelium

Electron shell diagram for Berkelium, the 97th element in the periodic table of elements.

Electron shell diagram for Berkelium, the 97th element in the periodic table of elements.


Berkelium (Bk) is a synthetic, radioactive, metallic element of the actinide series; also a transuranic element. It was first made in 1949 by alpha particle bombardment of americium-241 by S. G. Thompson and coworkers at the University of California at Berkeley (after which it is named). It can also be prepared by bombarding curium-244 with neutrons. Less than a gram is made each year. Nine isotopes are known the most stable of which is 247Bk (half-life 1.4 × 103 years).

 

atomic number 97
relative density 14 (calculated)
melting point 986°C (1,807°F)