Californium

Californium (ˌkælɨˈfɔrniəm) is a metallic chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. A radioactive transuranic element, californium is used in starting nuclear reactors, optimizing coal-fired power plants and cement production facilities (via online analyzers), medical treatment of cancer, and oil exploration via down hole well logging. It was first produced by bombarding curium with alpha particles (helium ions).

Characteristics

²⁵²Cf (2.645-year half-life) is a very strong neutron emitter and is thus extremely radioactive and harmful (One microgram spontaneously emits 2,314 million neutrons per second). ²⁴⁹Cf is formed from the beta decay of ²⁴⁹Bk and most other californium isotopes are made by subjecting berkelium to intense neutron radiation in a nuclear reactor.

Californium has no biological role and only a few californium compounds have been made and studied. Included among these are californium oxide (Cf₂O₃), californium trichloride (CfCl₃) and californium oxychloride (CfOCl). The only californium ion that is stable in aqueous solution is the californium(III) cation.

Value

The base value of each unit of ranges between 50 and 125Ð per unit, with up to 2 units being found at any one time.

Presence on Mars: Very Rare