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Chemistry Forums for Students => Physical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: tickle munster14 on February 19, 2005, 10:46:30 PM

Title: Californium
Post by: tickle munster14 on February 19, 2005, 10:46:30 PM

ok ive looked everywhere on the internet possible to find out what are the chemical properties of Californium and i cant find it!!!! :cursing:  :blowup:So if anyone knows what the chemical properties to Californium are, please tell me tonight or by Monday!!! :cry2:

Title: Re:Californium
Post by: Mitch on February 19, 2005, 10:51:37 PM

It has similar chemistry to all the actinides.

Title: Re:Californium
Post by: jdurg on February 19, 2005, 10:59:00 PM

Not a whole lot is known about the chemistry of Californium due to its high radioactivity and relative rarity.  (It does not occur naturally and has to be made in a nuclear reactor).  The pure metal has actually never been made in a visible form, I believe.  All I do know about it is that it generally exhibits an oxidation state of +3 in aqueous solutions, and on occasion +2.  It is expected to have a similar chemistry to that of Dysprosium which lies directly above it on the Periodic Table.  About 3% of the decay of Cf isotopes are due to spontaneous fission, so Cf is a VERY potent neutron emitter.  That makes it quite dangerous to work with which would also explain why not a helluva lot is known about it chemically.