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96 Cm Curium 247

Curium

ACTINIDE
Bohr Model: Electrons arranged in energy shells around the nucleus.

Curium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with symbol Cm and atomic number 96. This element of the actinide series was named after Marie and Pierre Curie – both were known for their research on radioactivity. Curium was first intentionally produced and identified in July 1944 by the group of Glenn T. Seaborg at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Quick Facts

Atomic Number 96
Period 7
Group 10
Phase Solid
Appearance silvery metallic, glows purple in the dark
About Actinides

Actinides are the 15 metallic elements with atomic numbers 89–103. All actinides are radioactive.

History

Discovered By Glenn T. Seaborg
Named By Unknown

Physical Properties

Atomic Mass 247
Density 13.51 g/L
Molar Heat N/A J/(mol·K)
Phase Transition (Melting & Boiling Points)

Curium melts at 1613 K and boils at 3383 K.

Atomic Properties

Electron Config [Rn] 5f7 6d1 7s2
Electronegativity 1.28
Electron Affinity 27.17 kJ/mol
Ionization Energy 581 kJ/mol
Orbital Filling Diagram
This diagram visualizes electron configuration according to the Aufbau principle and Hund's rule. Boxes represent orbitals (s, p, d, f), while arrows indicate electrons with spin up or down. Electrons fill lower energy levels first and occupy orbitals singly before pairing.

Photograph

Image of Curium Source: Wikipedia

External Resources

Wikipedia PubChem Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Videos (YouTube)

Study Guide

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus, which defines the element.

Atomic Mass

The average mass of an atom, including protons and neutrons.

Electronegativity

A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a bond.

Ionization Energy

The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

Electron Config

The arrangement of electrons in the atom's energy shells.