erkelium is one of the many transition metals on the periodic table of elements. It was discovered in December of 1949 by S. G. Thompson, A. Ghiorsio, and G. T. Seaborg. They produced it by cyclotron bombardment of milligram amounts of 241Am with helium ions. Berkelium was named after Berkeley, California, which is where it was discovered. Berkelium is a very rare earth metal, and is expected to be radioactive. Berkelium is obtained from plutonium in nuclear reactors. It is expected to be of silvery color. Berkelium is easily soluble in dilute mineral acids. It is also readily oxidized by air or oxygen at elevated temperatures.

Above, Berkelium is the big, hazy blob shown in the center.

erkelium (big, hazy blob shown at left) is classified as a rare earth metal. It is also a transition metal. Scientists have proved that Berkelium, at the moment, is of no commercial or technological importance. Only a few of its compounds are known.

Berkelium is shown above.

ne of the first visible amounts of a pure Berkelium compound (Berkelium Chloride) was produced in 1962. It weighed one billionth of a gram. Berkelium probably has not been prepared in elemental form yet.

Sources for Information/Pictures:

http://www.webelements.com/webelements/scholar/elements/berkelium/structure.html

http://www.scescape.net/~woods/elements/berkelium.html

http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Bk/key.html