96

Cm

Curium
[ 247 ]
 Historical Information

Curium was identified by Seaborg and others in 1944 as a result of helium ion bombardment of the plutonium isotope 239Pu. Three years later visible amounts of the hydroxide were isolated by Werner and Perlman. In 1951, the same workers prepared curium in its elemental form for the first time.
Basic Information Shells
  • Name:Curium
  • Symbol: Cm
  • Atomic number: 96
  • Atomic weight: [ 247 ]
  • Standard state: solid at 298 K
  • Group in periodic table:
  • Group name:Actinoid
  • Period in periodic table: 7
  • Block in periodic table: f-block
  • Classification: Metallic
 Curium
Uses Trivia
  • sed as a thermoelectric power source

Most compounds of Cm(III) are faintly yellow. If curium enters the body it accumulates in the bones, and is therefore very toxic as its radiation destroys the red-cell forming mechanism.