Discovered By: Stanley Gerald Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, Glenn Seaborg
Discovery year: 1949

The following table showing some properties of Berkelium(Bk):

Table Example
Atomic number 97
Group n/a
Period 7
Block f
Electrons 97
Protons 97
Neutrons 150
Atomic weight (247)
Oxidation states +3, +4
Ionic charge Bk^3+, Bk^4+


Table Example
Electrons per shell K2 L8 M18 N32 O27 P8 Q2
Electron configuration 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10 4p^6 5s^2 4d^10 5p^6 6s^2 4f^14 5d^10 6p^6 7s^2 5f^9
Melting point 1050°C
Phase Solid
Density 14780 kg.m^-3
Molar volume 1.67*10^-5 m^3.mol^-1
Thermal conductivity 10 W.m^-1.K^-1
Electronegativity 1.3
Valence 4
First ionization energy 601 kJ.mol^-1


Table Example
Radioactive Yes
Half life 4.35*10^10 s
Lifetime 6.28*10^10 s
Neutron cross section 710 barn
Decay mode Alpha emission (α-decay)