97
Berkelium
Atomic Number97
Atomic Mass247 u
CategoryActinide
State at Room TempSolid
Year Discovered1949
About Berkelium
Named for Berkeley, California, home of the cyclotron that made it. Produced by bombarding americium targets, in milligram amounts at best. Berkelium targets were essential for discovering tennessine and several other superheavy elements, making it a scientific stepping stone. Glows from its own radioactivity. No uses outside research.
More Actinides
92
Uranium
The heaviest naturally abundant element. Named after the planet Uranus. Enriched...
94
Plutonium
Named after the dwarf planet Pluto, following the uranium-neptunium-plutonium se...
89
Actinium
Glows an eerie pale blue in the dark as its radiation excites the surrounding ai...
90
Thorium
Named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Thorium oxide glowed white in gas la...