Curium (Cm)
Curium (Cm, element 96) is an actinide in period 7. Atomic mass 247, electron configuration [Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s², uses and facts.
About Curium
Curium is an actinide with the symbol Cm and atomic number 96. It is a solid at room temperature, and it sits in period 7 of the periodic table. Curium was discovered in 1944 by Glenn Seaborg.
Curium key facts
- Atomic number: 96
- Symbol: Cm
- Atomic mass: 247 u
- Category: actinide
- Group: none (f-block)
- Period: 7
- State at room temperature: solid
- Electron configuration: [Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s²
- Electronegativity (Pauling): 1.3
- Melting point: 1613 K (1339.85 °C)
- Boiling point: 3383 K (3109.85 °C)
- Density: 13.51 g/cm³
- Common oxidation states: +3, +4
Electron configuration
The electron configuration of curium is [Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s². The part in brackets is the noble gas core; the rest shows how the outer electrons fill their subshells.
Uses of curium
- Nuclear batteries
- Research
- Alpha particle source
Did you know?
Named after Marie and Pierre Curie. Curium-244 is used as the alpha-particle source in the spectrometers that analyze Martian rock on NASA's rovers.
Neighbouring elements
- Americium (Am)
- Berkelium (Bk)
- Actinium (Ac)
- Thorium (Th)
- Protactinium (Pa)
- Uranium (U)
- Neptunium (Np)
- Plutonium (Pu)
- Americium (Am)
- Berkelium (Bk)
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic number of curium?
The atomic number of curium is 96, which means every curium atom has 96 protons.
What is the electron configuration of curium?
The electron configuration of curium is [Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s².
What group and period is curium in?
Curium is an actinide in period 7.
What state is curium at room temperature?
Curium is a solid at room temperature.
What is curium used for?
Curium is used for nuclear batteries, research, alpha particle source.