Compare Berkelium vs Curium: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties
Compare the elements Berkelium and Curium on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Berkelium and Curium comparison table side by side across over 90 properties. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. These similarities and dissimilarities should be known while we study periodic table elements. You can study the detailed comparison between Berkelium vs Curium with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare Bk vs Cm on more than 90 properties like electronegativity, oxidation state, atomic shells, orbital structure, Electronaffinity, physical states, electrical conductivity and many more. This in-depth comparison helps students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts understand the differences and similarities between Berkelium and Curium.
Berkelium and Curium Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison between Berkelium (Bk) and Curium (Cm), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.
Facts - Basic Element Details
| Name | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 97 | 96 |
| Atomic Symbol | Bk | Cm |
| Atomic Weight | 247 | 247 |
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | - | Silver |
| Metallic Classification | Actinide | Actinide |
| Group in Periodic Table | Actinide (no group number) | Actinide (no group number) |
| Group Name | ||
| Period in Periodic Table | period 7 | period 7 |
| Block in Periodic Table | f -block | f -block |
| Electronic Configuration | [Rn] 5f9 7s2 | [Rn] 5f7 6d1 7s2 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 27, 8, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 32, 25, 9, 2 |
| Melting Point | 1323 K | 1618 K |
| Boiling Point | - | 3383 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7440-40-6 | CAS7440-51-9 |
| Neighborhood Elements | Neighborhood Elements of Berkelium | Neighborhood Elements of Curium |
History
| Parameter | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| History | The element Berkelium was discovered by G. Thompson, A. Ghiorso and G. T. Seaborg(University of California, Berkeley) in year 1949 in United States. Berkelium derived its name from Berkeley, California, where the element was first synthesized, by analogy with terbium. | The element Curium was discovered by G. T. Seaborg, R. A. James and A. Ghiorso in year 1944 in United States. Curium derived its name from Pierre Curie, a physicist, and Marie Curie, a physicist and chemist, named after great scientists by analogy with gadolinium. |
| Discovery | G. Thompson, A. Ghiorso and G. T. Seaborg(University of California, Berkeley) (1949) | G. T. Seaborg, R. A. James and A. Ghiorso (1944) |
| Isolated | () | () |
Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | - / - | - / - |
| Abundance in Sun | - / - | - / - |
| Abundance in Meteorites | - / - | - / - |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | - / - | - / - |
| Abundance in Oceans | - / - | - / - |
| Abundance in Humans | - / - | - / - |
Crystal Structure and Atomic Structure
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Volume | 16.84 cm3/mol | 18.05 cm3/mol |
| Atomic Radius | - | - |
| Covalent Radius | - | - |
| Van der Waals Radius | - | - |
Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines | ||
| Emission Spectrum |  |  |
| Absorption Spectrum |  |  |
| Lattice Constant | 341.6, 341.6, 1106.9 pm | 349.6, 349.6, 1133.1 pm |
| Lattice Angle | π/2, π/2, 2 π/3 | π/2, π/2, 2 π/3 |
| Space Group Name | P63/mmc | P63/mmc |
| Space Group Number | 194 | 194 |
| Crystal Structure | Simple Hexagonal  | Simple Hexagonal |
Atomic and Orbital Properties
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 97 | 96 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 97 | 96 |
| Number of Protons | 97 | 96 |
| Mass Number | 247 | 247 |
| Number of Neutrons | 150 | 151 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 27, 8, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 32, 25, 9, 2 |
| Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f9 7s2 | [Rn] 5f7 6d1 7s2 |
| Valence Electrons | 5f9 7s2 | 5f7 6d1 7s2 |
| Oxidation State | 3 | 3 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 6H15/2 | 9D2 |
| Shell structure |  |  |
Isotopes and Nuclear Properties
Berkelium has 0 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Curium has 0 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
| Parameter | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Known Isotopes | 235Bk, 236Bk, 237Bk, 238Bk, 239Bk, 240Bk, 241Bk, 242Bk, 243Bk, 244Bk, 245Bk, 246Bk, 247Bk, 248Bk, 249Bk, 250Bk, 251Bk, 252Bk, 253Bk, 254Bk | 233Cm, 234Cm, 235Cm, 236Cm, 237Cm, 238Cm, 239Cm, 240Cm, 241Cm, 242Cm, 243Cm, 244Cm, 245Cm, 246Cm, 247Cm, 248Cm, 249Cm, 250Cm, 251Cm, 252Cm |
| Stable Isotopes | - | |
| Neutron Cross Section | 710 | 60 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | - | - |
Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Valence or Valency | 4 | 4 |
| Electronegativity | 1.3 Pauling Scale | 1.28 Pauling Scale |
| Oxidation State | 3 | 3 |
| Electron Affinity | - | - |
| Ionization Energies | 1st: 601 kJ/mol | 1st: 581 kJ/mol |
Physical Properties
Curium (13.51 g/cm³) is less dense than Berkelium (14.78 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Berkelium will be heavier than the same volume of Curium. Berkelium is about 9.4 denser than Curium
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | - | Silver |
| Density | 14.78 g/cm3 | 13.51 g/cm3 |
| Density (when liquid (at melting point)) | - | - |
| Molar Volume | 16.84 cm3/mol | 18.05 cm3/mol |
Mechanical and Hardness Properties
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
Elastic Properties | ||
| Young Modulus | - | - |
| Shear Modulus | - | - |
| Bulk Modulus | - | - |
| Poisson Ratio | - | - |
Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element | ||
| Mohs Hardness | - | - |
| Vickers Hardness | - | - |
| Brinell Hardness | - | - |
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
Heat and Conduction Properties | ||
| Thermal Conductivity | 10 W/(m K) | - |
| Thermal Expansion | - | - |
Electrical Properties | ||
| Electrical Conductivity | - | - |
| Resistivity | - | - |
| Superconducting Point | - | - |
Magnetic and Optical Properties
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
Magnetic Properties | ||
| Magnetic Type | - | - |
| Curie Point | - | - |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | - | - |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | - | - |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | - | - |
Optical Properties | ||
| Refractive Index | - | - |
Acoustic Properties | ||
| Speed of Sound | - | - |
Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
| Property | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Point | 1323 K | 1618 K |
| Boiling Point | - | 3383 K |
| Critical Temperature | - | - |
| Superconducting Point | - | - |
Enthalpies | ||
| Heat of Fusion | - | - |
| Heat of Vaporization | - | - |
| Heat of Combustion | - | - |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
| Parameter | Berkelium | Curium |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | CAS7440-40-6 | CAS7440-51-9 |
| RTECS Number | - | - |
| DOT Hazard Class | - | - |
| DOT Numbers | - | - |
| EU Number | - | - |
| NFPA Fire Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Health Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Hazards | - | - |
| AutoIgnition Point | - | - |
| Flashpoint | - | - |
Compare Berkelium and Curium With Other Elements
Compare Berkelium and Curium with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howBerkelium and Curium stack up against other elements of the periodic table. Use our interactive comparison tool to analyze 90+ properties across different metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in engineering, chemistry, electronics, biology, and material science.