Berkelium

Aug 2 2001

Chemical Formula

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Bk

Background

Berkelium was discovered in 1949 (December) by Thompson, Ghiorso and Seaborg. It was the fifth trans-uranium element synthesized, and the eighth member of the actinide transition series. It was produced by cyclotron bombardment of milligram amounts of the isotope Am241 with helium ions. There are eight know isotopes, all of which have been synthesised. The isotope Bk249 with a half-life of 314 days made it possible to analyse the properties of berkelium.

Berkelium has not been produced in its elemental form. However, the first visible compound of the isotope was berkelium chloride (BkCl2), produced in 1962. X-ray diffraction methods have been used to identify the Berkelium compounds including BkO2, Bk2O3, BkF3, BkCl3, and BkOCl.

Applications

•         Because of Berkelium’s rarity there are no commercial or technological uses at present.

 

Primary author: AZoM.com

 

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