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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Californium – Cf

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Californium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Californium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Californium Menu

• Californium Page One
  • Overview of Californium
  • Californium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Californium
  • Chemical Properties of Californium
  • Physical Properties of Californium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Californium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides

Overview of Californium

Californium's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Californium
• Czech: Kalifornium
• Croatian: Kalifornij
• French: Californium
• German: Californium - s
• Italian: Californio
• Norwegian: Californium
• Portuguese: Califórnio
• Russian:
• Spanish: Californio
• Swedish: Californium

Atomic Structure of Californium

• Atomic Radius:
• Atomic Volume:
• Covalent Radius:
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture)_a/barns: 2900
• Crystal Structure: Hexagonal

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d¹⁰ 4s²p⁶d¹⁰f¹⁴ 5s²p⁶d¹⁰f¹⁰ 6s²p⁶ 7s²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,18,32,28,8,2

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.934Å
• Filling Orbital: 5f¹⁰
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 98
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 153
• Number of Protons: 98
• Oxidation States: 3
• Valence Electrons: 5f¹⁰ 7s²

Chemical Properties of Californium

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 3.1226g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function:
• Electronegativity: 1.3 (Pauling); 1.2 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 6.3
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 44.5

Physical Properties of Californium

• Atomic Mass Average: 251
• Boiling Point:
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: N/A
• Conductivity

  Electrical:
  Thermal: 0.1 W/cmK

• Density: 15.1g/cc
• Description:

  Man made radioactive metal.

• Flammablity Class:
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Heat of Vaporization: kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 1173K 900°C 1652°F
  
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat:

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7440-71-3
• NFPA 704
  • Health:
  • Fire:
  • Reactivity:
  • Special Hazard: Radioactive
  <
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
    • No limits set by OSHA
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
    • No limits set by OSHA
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
    • No limits set by NIOSH
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm^-3: nil
    • Bone/p.p.m: nil
    • Liver/p.p.m: nil
    • Muscle/p.p.m: nil
    • Daily Dietary Intake: nil
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: nil

  Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: G.T.Seaborg, S.G.Tompson, A.Ghiorso, K.Street Jr.
  • Discovery Location: Berkeley California United States
  • Discovery Year: 1950
  • Name Origin:

    After the state and University of California.

  • Abundance of Californium:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Seawater/p.p.m.: nil
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): N/A
  • Sources of Californium:

    Made by bombarding curium with helium ions. World production is only around a few grams per year.

  • Uses of Californium:

    Californium is available only in very small quanities so its uses are limited, however, it is used in nuclear research as a source of fission fragments. It is also useful as a neutron sorce for activation analysis to detect gold or silver. It can also be used in moisture gauges in oil wells.

  • Additional Notes:

  [Last update: 2/22/2007]

  Notes below

  Californium Menu

  • Californium Page One
    • Overview of Californium
    • Californium's Name in Other Languages
    • Atomic Structure of Californium
    • Chemical Properties of Californium
    • Physical Properties of Californium
    • Regulatory / Health
    • Who/When/Where/How
  • Californium Page Two
    • Nuclides / Isotopes
    • Potential Parent Nuclides

  Related Resources

  • Anatomy of the Atom
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  • Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
    Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
  • Chemical Database
    This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

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  Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Californium – Cf. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2008. Accessed on-line: 5/9/2008
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