Berkelium is a metallic chemical element that belongs to the actinide family of elements on the periodic table. Berkelium does not exist in nature, but it has been synthesized in laboratories in various isotopes and compounds. Because the element is rare and difficult to produce, it has no commercial applications, though it does occasionally appear in research. Berkelium is created by bombarding other elements with neutrons, most commonly americium.
Berkelium’s appearance is unknown because no one has been able to isolate the element in its pure form. It is thought to be silvery-gray in color, similar to its periodic table neighbors, and it is reactive, so it will most likely form an oxidation film when exposed to air. Berkelium is radioactive, and it appears to have two allotropic forms in the solid state, indicating that its structure can change. It has an atomic number of 97 and is designated by the symbol Bk on the periodic table of elements.
In 1949, a team of scientists led by Glenn Seaborg at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered the element. Seaborg was also responsible for the discovery of a number of other actinides, including plutonium, curium, and nobelium, among many others, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1951. The element was named after the university and city where it was discovered.
Berkelium, like many other synthetically produced elements, hasn’t been produced in large quantities because it’s difficult to make and many of its isotopes have short half lives. Because the element is both rare and unstable, it has no practical applications outside of experimental chemistry. Scientists hope that by studying the element more thoroughly, they will be able to discover new isotopes, some of which could be useful if stabilized.
Berkelium, like other radioactive elements, poses a risk to human health. The majority of people, on the other hand, will never come across this element because it does not exist in nature. Scientists take precautions in laboratories where berkelium is synthesized to ensure that the element and its byproducts are handled safely. Berkelium appears to have the ability to bioaccumulate in human tissue, causing health problems despite having no biological function.