Curium
KYOOR-i-em
Curium (Cm) is a silvery-white colored radioactive metal that has the atomic number 96 in the periodic table. It is an Actinoid Metal with the symbol Cm.
Curium was first synthesised by Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph James, and Albert Ghiorso in 1944 at UC Berkeley. In their experiment the element plutonium was bombarded wth a helium nucleus causing nuclear decay producing Curium. It draws its name from Marie and Pieree Curie who are noted for their work with radioactivity. Curium has odd magnetic properties and can exhibit ferromagnetism when cooled. Its oxides also will fluoresce when put under ultraviolet light. Curium’s longest half life is 15.6 million years and it is not found in the earths crust. It occurs in nuclear fuel and also can be detected after nuclear weapons have been used. Curium is used as a radionuclide and also in x-ray machines. It is a solid metal at room temperature and it has a melting point of 1340°c and a boiling point of 3110°c.
FAQ's
G.T.Seaborg, R.A.James, A.Ghiorso
1944
Uses
It has no significant commercial applications.
Sources
Made by bombarding plutonium with helium ions. So radioactive it glows in the dark.
About the author
Nathan M
Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.
Citation
Cm
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