INTRODUCTION
Californium is an artificially made radioactive element, and one of the transuranium (elements that is after uranium on the periodic table) in the actinide series of the periodic table.
It was named after California, because it was first synthesized at the University of California.
BASIC INFORMATIONS
- Atomic Number
- 98
- Atomic Mass
- 251
- Ionic radius
- 0.95
- Ionization energy
- N/A
- Electronic config
- 2,8,18,32,28,8,2
- Principal Valency
- +2
- Density g/cm³
- N/A
- Melting point °C
- 900
- Boiling point °C
- 1470
- Type of Element
- Metal
- Electronegativity
- N/A
- Element Category
- Actinide series
- Appearance
- Silvery white solid
- Block
- f-block
- Period
- 9
- Group
- 13
- No of Isotopes
- 20
- Occurrence
- Artificially Made
- Abundance in ppm
- Nil
- Year of Discovery
- 1950
EXTRACTION
It is obtain by electrolysis of its fused salts or reducing its halides with calcium
OXIDATION STATES
+2,+3,+4
MAJOR SOURCE
Bombardment of curium with neutrons.
HALF LIFE
Californium-249 = 360 years, Californium-252 = 2.6 years
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
* Californium-252 is used in the analysis of lunar samples and to produce short-lived tracers for use in the medical field.
* Research is going on, in an attempt to determine the effectiveness of californium-252 in cancer therapy.
* Californium is applicable as a high-intensity neutron source in electronic systems.