How Do You Spell BERKELIUM?

Pronunciation: [bɜːkˈiːli͡əm] (IPA)

Berkelium is a radioactive element on the periodic table, symbolized by the atomic number 97 and the chemical symbol Bk. The pronunciation of this word is /ˈbərkəliəm/, with the emphasis on the first syllable. It is named after the city of Berkeley in California where it was first synthesized. Its spelling is derived from the surname of the famous physicist Ernest Lawrence, who was a professor at the University of California in Berkeley during the early 1900s.

BERKELIUM Meaning and Definition

  1. Berkelium is a chemical element with the atomic number 97 and symbol Bk. It is an actinide metal that belongs to the transuranium elements, a group of synthetic elements that have atomic numbers greater than 92. Berkelium is highly radioactive and has no known stable isotopes. Its most stable isotope, berkelium-247, has a half-life of about 1,380 years.

    Berkelium was discovered in December 1949 by the team of Stanley G. Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, and Glenn T. Seaborg at the University of California, Berkeley. The element was named after the university to honor its contributions to nuclear research. It is produced by bombarding heavier elements with particle accelerators.

    Due to its rarity and radioactivity, berkelium has limited practical applications. However, it has been used for the synthesis of other transuranium elements and as a target material in scientific research. It has also found applications in certain medical studies.

    Berkelium is a soft, silver-white metal with a relatively low melting point compared to other actinides. It exhibits a high degree of reactivity, particularly with oxygen in the air. The element is primarily used in the scientific community for research purposes, allowing scientists to gain insights into the properties of transuranium elements and their behavior.

Common Misspellings for BERKELIUM

Etymology of BERKELIUM

The word "berkelium" is named after the University of California, Berkeley, where the element was discovered. It was first synthesized in 1949 by American scientist Glenn T. Seaborg, along with his team consisting of Stanley G. Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, and Kenneth Street Jr. Berkelium was named to honor the university and its contributions to nuclear physics and the discovery of several transuranium elements.

Similar spelling words for BERKELIUM

Plural form of BERKELIUM is BERKELIUMS

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