Berkelium Definition

bər-kēlē-əm, bûrklē-əm
noun
A synthetic transuranic radioactive element having isotopes with mass numbers from 235 to 254. Its longest-lived isotopes, Bk-247 and Bk-248, have half-lives of 1,380 years and more than 9 years, respectively; the isotope produced in greatest quantity, Bk-249, has a half-life of 330 days. Atomic number 97; melting point 996°C; specific gravity 14 (estimated); valence 3, 4.
American Heritage
A radioactive, metallic chemical element, one of the actinides, initially produced by bombarding americium with high-energy alpha particles in a cyclotron, and now prepared by intense neutron bombardment of plutonium: symbol, Bk; at. no. 97
Webster's New World

A transuranic chemical element (symbol Bk) with an atomic number of 97.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
  • atomic number 97
  • bk

Origin of Berkelium

  • After Berkeley, California, because of discovery at UC Berkeley.

    From Wiktionary

  • After Berkeley California

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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berkelium