Californium

Symbol: Cf

Atomic Number: 98

Atomic Weight: (251)

Californium (atomic number 98, symbol Cf) is a radioactive element from the actinide series, named after the University of California and California. It is a grey or silvery white metal, and its density is greater than the density of lead. Californium does not occur in nature, and particle accelerators and nuclear reactors are used for its production. Californium is also a byproduct of the production of plutonium and different radioactive decay and neuron capture routes. Californium-249, an isotope of californium, occurs with beta decay of berkelium-249 and the high-numbered or heavier isotopes are typically produced in nuclear reactors, using intense...Read More