Berkelium

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Green Mountain High School, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A.

Berkelium, 97, Green Mountain High School, Colorado USA
Berkelium: Making the tile for berkelium was a little difficult. Considering that only trace amounts of berkelium are ever made, this element has no practical use. So instead, I decided to decorate the tile with simple facts. The atomic number, atomic symbol, and atomic weight are displayed. The red “NO” sign behind the atomic symbol represents that the element has no current use. Underneath the atomic weight is the electron configuration. To the right of the atomic weight, it shows the atomic symbol for americium and an arrow leading from that to the atomic symbol of berkelium. I chose this to demonstrate that berkelium was derived from Americium by process of a cyclotron. To the left of the atomic weight, there is a yellow radioactive symbol because berkelium is radioactive. In the right top corner is the shape of California as berkelium was created in a lab at the University of California in Berkeley. And finally, running down the left side in shiny letters is the word “metal” because Berkelium is considered a metal.

Johanna Tiwari, Green Mountain High school, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A.

Atomic properties*

Name:
Berkelium
Symbol:
Bk
Atomic number:
97
Atomic mass:
(247) amu
Melting point:
996 ºC
Boiling point:
No data
Density:
No data
Electronegativity:
No data
# of Isotopes:
2
State:
Solid**
Colour:
No data
Classification:
Metallic**

* Haynes, W. M. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 91st edition: http://www.hbcponline.com/ Retrieved April 7, 2011

** Winter, M. (2010). Home of the Periodic Table. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from Web Elements: http://www.webelements.com/