97Bk Berkelium

Year Discovered

1949

Discovered By

Albert Ghiorso, Stanley Thompson and Glenn Seaborg of the USA

Biological Rating

Not necessary for life.

Description

Named after the University of California at Berkeley, berkelium is a silvery, radioactive metal. It is a chemically active metal, reacting with air, water and acids but not bases. It has never been found naturally and less than a gram is produced each year. Berkelium is too rare to have any commercial or industrial uses. The most stable isotope of berkelium has a half-life of 1,400 years.

Biological Benefits

Berkelium has no biological use.

Role in Life Processes

No known benefit to life processes in plants or animals.

Sources

Berkelium is obtained by particle bombardment.