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.
