Chemical Formula
Cf
Background
Californium was discovered in 1950 by a team consisting of Glenn Seaborg, Albert Ghiorso, Kenneth Street and Stanley G. Thompson at the University of California while performing an experiment of bombarding curium-242 with alpha-particles using a 60-inch cyclotron. The nuclear reaction produced very small quantities of californium-245 and a free neutron. The element derived its name from the University of California where the experiment was conducted.
Basic Information
| Name |
Californium |
| Symbol |
Cf |
| Atomic number |
98 |
| Atomic weight |
251 amu |
| Standard state |
Solid at 298 K |
| CAS Registry ID |
7440-71-3 |
| Group name |
Actinoid |
| Period in periodic table |
7 |
| Block in periodic table |
f-block |
| Color |
Unknown, but probably metallic and silvery white or grey in appearance |
| Classification |
Metallic |
| Melting point |
1173 K (900°C or 1652°F) |
| Boiling point |
Unknown |
| Density |
Unknown |
| Phase at room temperature |
Solid |
Occurrence
Californium is not found in nature.
Californium (version 1) - Periodic Table of Videos
Isotopes
Californium has 20 isotopes with known half-lives and mass numbers ranging from 237 to 256. All the isotopes are radioactive. The most stable isotopes of californium are listed below:
- 251Cf with a half-life of 898 years
- 249Cf with a half-life of 351 years
- 250Cf with a half-life of 13.08 years
- 252Cf with a half-life of 2.6 years.
Exceptionally, 252Cf has a strange characteristic of releasing neutrons upon breakage.
Production
Californium is produced in particle accelerators and nuclear reactors. Bombardment of berkelium-249 with neutron forms berkelium-250 which beta decays to produce californium-250. Californium-250, when bombarded with a neutron produces californium-251 and californium-252. Irradiation of curium isotopes with neutron in nuclear reactors also produces californium-252. Few mg of californium-252 and μg of californium-249 can be obtained by prolonged exposure of plutonium and americium with neutrons.
Health Aspects
The following are some of the health effects of californium upon exposure to its radiation:
- Genetic damage
- Infertility/miscarriages
- Leukemia
- Cancer
- Damage to immune system
Key Properties
The key properties of californium include the following:
- It is a soft, malleable metal
- It is highly radioactive
- It is a strong neutron emitter
- It is fairly reactive as it rapidly forms into an oxide when exposed to air
- It exhibits the properties of lanthanides.
Applications
Some of the applications of californium are listed below:
- It is used for treating cancer
- It is used as a neutron source for identifying silver and gold ores
- It finds use in neutron moisture gauges for measuring moisture content of soil
- It is also used for inspecting airline baggage.
References
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.