berkelium

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berkelium (symbol Bk) Radioactive metallic element, of the actinide series. It does not occur in nature and was first made in 1949 by alpha-particle bombardment of americium-241 at the University of California at Berkeley (after which it is named) by a research team led by the US nuclear chemist Glenn Seaborg (1912–99). Nine isotopes are known. Properties: at.no. 97; r.d. (calculated) 14; m.p. 986°C (1807°F); most stable isotope Bk247 (half-life 1.4×103 yr).

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berkelium