curium

E909378

Curium is a synthetic, highly radioactive metallic element in the actinide series, used mainly in scientific research and as a source of alpha particles.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Curium 1

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf actinide
chemical element
radioactive element
synthetic element
appearance silvery metallic solid
atomicNumber 96
boilingPoint 3110 °C (approximate)
CASNumber 7440-51-9
commonOxidationState +3
compound curium(III) chloride (CmCl3) NERFINISHED
curium(III) oxide (Cm2O3)
curium(IV) oxide (CmO2)
crystalStructure double hexagonal close-packed (dhcp) at room temperature
density about 13.5 g/cm³ at room temperature
discoveredBy Albert Ghiorso NERFINISHED
Glenn T. Seaborg NERFINISHED
Ralph A. James NERFINISHED
discoveryPlace University of California, Berkeley NERFINISHED
discoveryYear 1944
electronicConfiguration [Rn] 5f7 6d1 7s2
group actinides
halfLife curium-244: about 18.1 years
curium-247: about 15.6 million years
hazard high radiotoxicity
strong alpha emitter requiring shielding
isotopes curium-242 NERFINISHED
curium-244 NERFINISHED
curium-245 NERFINISHED
curium-246 NERFINISHED
curium-247 NERFINISHED
meltingPoint 1340 °C
mostCommonResearchIsotope curium-244 NERFINISHED
namedAfter Marie Curie NERFINISHED
Pierre Curie NERFINISHED
notableProperty no stable isotopes
occurrence synthetic; not found in nature in significant quantities
oxidationState +3
+4
positionInPeriodicTable actinide series
f-block
period 7
productionMethod multiple neutron capture and beta decay of lighter actinides
neutron irradiation of plutonium in nuclear reactors
radioactiveDecayMode alpha decay (for many isotopes)
radioactivity highly radioactive
standardAtomicWeight (247)
symbol Cm
use radioisotope power sources (limited, experimental)
scientific research
source of alpha particles
target material for synthesis of heavier transuranium elements

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

actinide series hasElement curium
Curie hasEponym curium
this entity surface form: Curium