Californium
Californium is the sixth transuranium element in the periodic table to be discovered. It has the symbol Cf and atom number 98. It was named after the state of California and University of California, Berkeley.
The discovery of californium was announced on March 17, 1950 by UC Berkeley researchers Thompson, Street, Albert Ghiorso, and Glenn T. Seaborg. It was created by bombarding microgram quantities of 242Cm with 35 MeV helium ions in the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory's 60-inch cyclotron.
Californium (III) is the only ion stable in aqueous solutions, all attempts to reduce or oxidize californium (III) having failed. The isotope 249Cf results from the beta decay of 249Bk while the heavier isotopes are produced by intense neutron irradiation by the reactions. The existence of the isotopes 249Cf, 250Cf, 251Cf, and 252Cf makes it feasible to isolate californium in weighable amounts so that its properties can be investigated with macroscopic quantities.
The isotope Californium-252, a very strong neutron emitter, is known for being extremely radioactive, with some specialist applications. One microgram releases 170 million neutrons per minute, which presents biological hazards. Proper safeguards should be used in handling californium.
Reduction of californium to its metallic state has not yet been accomplished. Because californium is a very efficient source of neutrons, many new uses are expected for it. It has already found use in neutron moisture gauges and in well-logging (the determination of water and oil-bearing layers). It is also being used as a portable neutron source for discovery of metals such as gold or silver by on-the-spot activation analysis. 252-Cf is now being offered for sale by the O.R.N.L. at a cost of $10/mg. As of May, 1975, more than 63 mg have been produced and sold. It has been suggested that californium may be produced in certain stellar explosions, called supernovae, for the radioactive decay of 254Cf (55-day half-life) agrees with the characteristics of the light curves of such explosions observed through telescopes. This suggestion, however, is questioned.
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