Is berkelium a metal?

Yes. Berkelium is a metal, classified as an actinide on the periodic table.

How many protons does berkelium have?

Berkelium has 97 protons. Its atomic number is 97, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of berkelium.

What group and period is berkelium in?

Berkelium is in period 7 of the periodic table. As an actinide in the f-block, it sits in a separate row below the main table and has no standard group number.

What is the atomic mass of berkelium?

The atomic mass of berkelium is 247 u (unified atomic mass units).

Element 97

Berkelium (Bk)

Actinide · Period 7 · f-block

Berkelium (Bk) is element 97 of the periodic table, an actinide in period 7 (f-block) with an atomic mass of 247 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number: 97
Symbol: Bk
Atomic mass: 247 u
Category: Actinides
Period: 7
Block: f-block
Phase at STP: solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p6 5f9 7s2
Shorthand configuration: [Rn] 5f9 7s2
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 27, 8, 2
Oxidation states: +3, +4

Physical properties

Melting point: 1,259 K (985.85 °C)
Boiling point: 2,900 K (2,626.85 °C)
Density: 14.79 g/cm³
Phase: solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling): 1.3
Atomic radius: 170 pm
First ionization energy: 601 kJ/mol
Electron affinity: -165 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

Notable isotopes of Berkelium: mass number, atomic mass, natural abundance, and stability.
Isotope	Mass	Abundance	Stability
Bk-247	247.07031	-	Half-life 1380 years

Common uses

Scientific research only

Discovery

Year: 1949
Discovered by: Stanley G. Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, Glenn T. Seaborg
Country: USA

Frequently asked questions

Is berkelium a metal?: Yes. Berkelium is a metal, classified as an actinide on the periodic table.
How many protons does berkelium have?: Berkelium has 97 protons. Its atomic number is 97, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of berkelium.
What group and period is berkelium in?: Berkelium is in period 7 of the periodic table. As an actinide in the f-block, it sits in a separate row below the main table and has no standard group number.
What is the atomic mass of berkelium?: The atomic mass of berkelium is 247 u (unified atomic mass units).

Keep exploring

Berkelium's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.