bK

Berkelium (symbol Bk) is a synthetic radioactive chemical element with atomic number 97. It is a member of the actinide series and is located in period 7 of the periodic table.

Discovery and naming: Berkelium was first synthesized in December 1949 at the University of California, Berkeley, by Glenn T. Seaborg, Albert Ghiorso, and Stanley G. Thompson. It was named after the city of Berkeley, California, home to the laboratory where it was created.

Production and abundance: Berkelium is not found in nature and is produced in very small quantities in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators by irradiating lighter actinides. Only trace amounts are typically made, and it must be produced and handled in specialized facilities.

Isotopes and chemistry: All isotopes of berkelium are radioactive; there are multiple radioisotopes with half-lives ranging from hours to years. The most stable known isotope is berkelium-247, with a half-life of about 1,380 years. In compounds, berkelium commonly exists in the +3 oxidation state and forms oxides such as Bk2O3 and fluorides such as BkF3. It behaves similarly to other late actinides in its chemistry.

Applications and safety: Berkelium is used almost exclusively for scientific research, especially in studies of the properties of heavy actinides and in experiments related to the production of heavier elements. Practical applications are limited due to its scarcity and radioactivity. Handling requires radiological controls and hot-cell facilities.