Berkelium
Berkelium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with symbol Bk and atomic number 97. It is a member of the actinide and transuranium element series. It is named after the city of Berkeley, California, the location of the University of California Radiation Laboratory where it was discovered in December 1949.
A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.
86 is the [Rn] core total across six shells.
At a glance
- Atomic number
- 97
- Atomic mass
- 247 u
- Phase
- Solid
- Density
- 14.78 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1,259 K
- Boiling point
- 2,900 K
- First ionization energy
- 601 kJ/mol
- Electronegativity
- 1.3
- Electron affinity
- -165.24 kJ/mol
- Molar heat capacity
- Unavailable
- Period
- 7
- Appearance
- silvery
Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, imagery, and reference data in more depth. Properties with no value in the reference are marked unavailable.