Bk
247.000Berkelium
Berkelyum
Berkelium is a synthetic radioactive actinide with atomic number 97. It is known for berkelium-249, the synthesis of tennessine element 117, actinide oxidation chemistry and rare heavy-element target production.
97
247 g/mol
[Rn] 5f⁹ 7s²
2 | 8 | 18 | 32 | 27 | 8 | 2
1.3
14.78 g/cm³
985.9 °C
2626.8 °C
Glenn T. Seaborg
Berkelium was synthesized in 1949 by Stanley Thompson, Glenn Seaborg, Kenneth Street Jr. and Albert Ghiorso at Berkeley. It was named after Berkeley, California and the University of California, Berkeley.
Berkelium-247
Half-life: About 1,380 years. Long-lived berkelium isotope used in research discussions.Berkelium-249
Half-life: About 330 days. Important target isotope used in the synthesis of tennessine.BkO₂
Berkelium DioxideResearch compound showing berkelium(IV) chemistry.BkCl₃
Berkelium(III) ChlorideResearch compound for berkelium chemistry.- Berkelium-249 target material for synthesizing tennessine, element 117
- Heavy actinide chemistry research
- Studies of +3 and +4 oxidation states in late actinides
- Production chains for heavier actinides and transactinides
Berkelium has no biological role. It is synthetic, radioactive and produced only in very small quantities for research.
- The tennessine discovery depended on a rare Bk-249 target produced at Oak Ridge and sent to Dubna.
- Only milligram or smaller quantities of berkelium are available for most research.
- Berkelium can show +4 chemistry more readily than many neighboring late actinides.
- Berkelium has atomic number 97 and symbol Bk.
- Its electron configuration is [Rn] 5f⁹ 7s².
- Berkelium is a synthetic actinide.
- Remember Bk-249 for tennessine, element 117, synthesis.
What is the atomic number of berkelium?
The atomic number of berkelium is 97.
What is the electron configuration of berkelium?
Berkelium has the electron configuration [Rn] 5f⁹ 7s².
What is berkelium used for?
Berkelium is used mainly in heavy element synthesis and actinide chemistry research.
What is berkelium-249 used for?
Berkelium-249 was used as a target material in the synthesis of tennessine, element 117.
Why is berkelium named berkelium?
Berkelium is named after Berkeley, California, where it was first synthesized.