Element 97
Berkelium
Actinides
Berkelium (Bk) is in the f-block of the periodic table — group 3, period 7.
Berkelium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with symbol Bk and atomic number 97.
Key data
- Atomic number
- 97
- Atomic mass
- 247.000 u
- Group / Period
- 3 / 7
- Block
- f-block
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Density
- 14.78 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 985.9 °C
- Boiling point
- 2626.8 °C
- Electron configuration
- [Rn] 5f9 7s2
Periodic table block
Berkelium is in the f-block (group 3, period 7). Elements land in the f-block when their highest-energy electrons fill an f subshell — these are the lanthanides and actinides shown beneath the main table.
New to this? Periodic table blocks explained: s, p, d, and f
Common uses
- •Heavier-element synthesis
- •Research only
- •Radioactive
Discovery
Year: 1949
Discovered by: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic number of Berkelium?
Berkelium has atomic number 97. Its symbol is Bk and its atomic mass is 247 u.
What category of element is Berkelium?
Berkelium is classified as actinides. It sits in group 3, period 7 of the periodic table.
What block of the periodic table is Berkelium in?
Berkelium is in the f-block (group 3, period 7). Its highest-energy electrons occupy the f subshell — you can see this in its electron configuration, [Rn] 5f9 7s2.
What is Berkelium used for?
Common uses of Berkelium include: Heavier-element synthesis, Research only, Radioactive.
When was Berkelium discovered?
Berkelium was discovered in 1949 by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
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