Compare Californium vs Plutonium: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties
Compare the elements Californium and Plutonium on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Californium and Plutonium 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 Californium vs Plutonium with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare Cf vs Pu 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 Californium and Plutonium.
Californium and Plutonium Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison between Californium (Cf) and Plutonium (Pu), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.
Facts - Basic Element Details
| Name | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 98 | 94 |
| Atomic Symbol | Cf | Pu |
| Atomic Weight | 251 | 244 |
| 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] 5f10 7s2 | [Rn] 5f6 7s2 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 28, 8, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 32, 24, 8, 2 |
| Melting Point | 1173 K | 913 K |
| Boiling Point | - | 3503 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7440-71-3 | CAS7440-07-5 |
| Neighborhood Elements | Neighborhood Elements of Californium | Neighborhood Elements of Plutonium |
History
| Parameter | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| History | The element Californium was discovered by S. G. Thompson,K. Street, Jr., A. Ghiorso and G. T. Seaborg(University of California, Berkeley) in year 1950 in United States. Californium derived its name from California, where the element was first synthesized. | The element Plutonium was discovered by Glenn T. Seaborg,Arthur C. Wahl,W. Kennedy and E.M. McMillan in year 1940 in United States. Plutonium derived its name from Pluto, a dwarf planet in the Solar System (then considered the ninth planet). |
| Discovery | S. G. Thompson,K. Street, Jr., A. Ghiorso and G. T. Seaborg(University of California, Berkeley) (1950) | Glenn T. Seaborg,Arthur C. Wahl,W. Kennedy and E.M. McMillan (1940) |
| Isolated | () | () |
Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Volume | 16.5 cm3/mol | 12.29 cm3/mol |
| Atomic Radius | - | 175 pm |
| Covalent Radius | - | - |
| Van der Waals Radius | - | - |
Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines | ||
| Emission Spectrum |  |  |
| Absorption Spectrum |  |  |
| Lattice Constant | 338, 338, 1102.5 pm | 618.3, 482.2, 1096.3 pm |
| Lattice Angle | π/2, π/2, 2 π/3 | π/2, 1.776571, π/2 |
| Space Group Name | P63/mmc | P121/m1 |
| Space Group Number | 194 | 11 |
| Crystal Structure | Simple Hexagonal  | Simple Monoclinic  |
Atomic and Orbital Properties
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 98 | 94 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 98 | 94 |
| Number of Protons | 98 | 94 |
| Mass Number | 251 | 244 |
| Number of Neutrons | 153 | 150 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 28, 8, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 32, 24, 8, 2 |
| Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f10 7s2 | [Rn] 5f6 7s2 |
| Valence Electrons | 5f10 7s2 | 5f6 7s2 |
| Oxidation State | 3 | 4 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 5I8 | 7F0 |
| Shell structure |  |  |
Isotopes and Nuclear Properties
Californium has 0 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Plutonium has 0 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
| Parameter | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| Known Isotopes | 237Cf, 238Cf, 239Cf, 240Cf, 241Cf, 242Cf, 243Cf, 244Cf, 245Cf, 246Cf, 247Cf, 248Cf, 249Cf, 250Cf, 251Cf, 252Cf, 253Cf, 254Cf, 255Cf, 256Cf | 228Pu, 229Pu, 230Pu, 231Pu, 232Pu, 233Pu, 234Pu, 235Pu, 236Pu, 237Pu, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, 243Pu, 244Pu, 245Pu, 246Pu, 247Pu |
| Stable Isotopes | - | |
| Neutron Cross Section | 2900 | 1.7 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | - | - |
Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| Valence or Valency | 4 | 6 |
| Electronegativity | 1.3 Pauling Scale | 1.28 Pauling Scale |
| Oxidation State | 3 | 4 |
| Electron Affinity | - | - |
| Ionization Energies | 1st: 608 kJ/mol | 1st: 584.7 kJ/mol |
Physical Properties
Californium (15.1 g/cm³) is less dense than Plutonium (19.816 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Plutonium will be heavier than the same volume of Californium. Plutonium is about 31.2 denser than Californium
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | - | Silver |
| Density | 15.1 g/cm3 | 19.816 g/cm3 |
| Density (when liquid (at melting point)) | - | 16.63 g/cm3 |
| Molar Volume | 16.5 cm3/mol | 12.29 cm3/mol |
Mechanical and Hardness Properties
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
Elastic Properties | ||
| Young Modulus | - | 96 |
| Shear Modulus | - | 43 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus | - | - |
| Poisson Ratio | - | 0.21 |
Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element | ||
| Mohs Hardness | - | - |
| Vickers Hardness | - | - |
| Brinell Hardness | - | - |
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
Heat and Conduction Properties | ||
| Thermal Conductivity | - | 6 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | - | - |
Electrical Properties | ||
| Electrical Conductivity | - | 670000 S/m |
| Resistivity | - | 0.0000015 m Ω |
| Superconducting Point | - | - |
Magnetic and Optical Properties
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
Magnetic Properties | ||
| Magnetic Type | - | Paramagnetic |
| Curie Point | - | - |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | - | 3.17e-8 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | - | 7.735e-9 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | - | 0.0006282 |
Optical Properties | ||
| Refractive Index | - | - |
Acoustic Properties | ||
| Speed of Sound | - | 2260 m/s |
Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
| Property | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Point | 1173 K | 913 K |
| Boiling Point | - | 3503 K |
| Critical Temperature | - | - |
| Superconducting Point | - | - |
Enthalpies | ||
| Heat of Fusion | - | - |
| Heat of Vaporization | - | 325 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - | - |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
| Parameter | Californium | Plutonium |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | CAS7440-71-3 | CAS7440-07-5 |
| RTECS Number | - | - |
| DOT Hazard Class | - | - |
| DOT Numbers | - | - |
| EU Number | - | EU231-117-7 |
| NFPA Fire Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Health Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Hazards | - | - |
| AutoIgnition Point | - | - |
| Flashpoint | - | - |
Compare Californium and Plutonium With Other Elements
Compare Californium and Plutonium with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howCalifornium and Plutonium 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.