Bk occurs as synthetic element in the periodic table that has the symbol Bk & atomic number 97. The radioactive metallic element in the actinide series, berkelium was foremost synthesized by bombarding americium with alpha particles (helium ions) and was known as when Berkeley, California. Atomic number 97 was a fifth transuranic element to be synthesized.

Notable characteristics
Weighable numbers of berkelium-249 (half-life 314 times) produce it conceivable to determine a bit of of its properties applying macroscopical quantities. As of 2004 it had non been isolated inside its elementary form, however these are predicted to become the silvery metal that would well oxidize in air at elevated temperatures and would exist as soluble in dilute mineral acids.

X-ray diffraction techniques have been utilized to identify various atomic number 97 compounds such as berkelium dioxide (BkO_Two), atomic number 97 fluoride (BkF_Three), bk oxychloride (BkOCl), & berkelium trioxide (BkO_Three). Within 1962 visible amounts of atomic number 97 chloride were isolated that weighed 3 billionths of the gram. This was the foremost period seeable numbers of a pure bk compound were produced.

Such as more actinides, atomic number 97 bio-accumulates in skeletal tissue. This element has there are there is no known utilizes outside of basic the food & drug administration and plays no biological role.

History
Bk was first synthesized by Glenn T. Seaborg, Albert Ghiorso, Stanley G. Thompson, & Kenneth Street, Jr at a University of California, Berkeley in December 1949. the team utilized a cyclotron to bombard a milligram-sized target of americium-241 with alpha particles to produce berkelium-243 (half-life 4.5 hours) & 2 free neutrons. One of a hanker lived isotopes of the element, berkelium-249 (half-life 32Times), was down the road synthesized by subjecting the curium-244 target with an unbearable beam of neutrons.

Isotopes
Nineteen radioisotopes of berkelium keep close at hand been characterized, by using the virtually all stalls existence Bk-247 by owning a half-life of 1380 years, Bk-248 using the half-life of >9 years, & Bk-249 with the half-life of 320 years. Completely of the unexpended radioactive isotopes keep around half-lifes that come less than Phoebe years, & a majority one have half lifes that come less than Phoebe hours. This element too has Deuce meta states, with a virtually all stalls existence Bk-248m (t_½ Twenty-three.Septet hours). A isotopes of bk home in atomic weight from 235.057 amu (Bk-235) to 254.091 amu (Bk-254).