Element Facts
SYMBOL
Bk
ATOMIC NO.
97
ATOMIC WEIGHT
247
CATEGORY
Actinide
PERIOD
Period 7
GROUP
Group 3
Historical Uses
Berkelium was synthesised in December 1949 by Stanley Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, and Glenn Seaborg at the University of California, Berkeley, by bombarding curium-242 with alpha particles in a 60-inch cyclotron. Named after the city of Berkeley, California, where it was created. It was the fifth transuranic element to be discovered. In 2009–2010, berkelium-249 produced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was used as the target material for synthesising tennessine (element 117).
Current Uses
Berkelium has no practical applications beyond nuclear physics research. Its role as a target material for synthesising heavier elements (such as tennessine) represents its only significant use. Its chemistry (trivalent actinide behaviour) is studied to improve understanding of actinide bonding.
Not Commercially Viable for Scrap
Why QuickStop Metals doesn’t buy Berkelium:
Berkelium is a synthetic radioactive element that only exists in microgram quantities produced in research reactors. It is subject to nuclear safeguards and radioactive materials regulations worldwide. Annual world production is approximately 1 gram. No scrap trade exists.
Price Context
No commercial market. Annual world production is approximately 1 gram, produced mainly at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Not available as a commercial commodity.