Element 96

Curium (Cm)

Actinide · Period 7 · f-block

Curium (Cm) is element 96 of the periodic table, a actinide in period 7 (f-block) with an atomic mass of 247 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
96
Symbol
Cm
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 5f7 6d1 7s2
Shorthand configuration
[Rn] 5f7 6d1 7s2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 25, 9, 2
Oxidation states
+3, +4, +5, +6

Physical properties

Melting point
1613 K
Boiling point
3383 K
Density
13.51 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
1.3
Atomic radius
174 pm
Covalent radius
169 pm
First ionization energy
581 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
28 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Cm-247247.07035Half-life 15.6 million years

Common uses

  • Space missions power
  • Pacemakers
  • Scientific research

Discovery

Year
1944
Discovered by
Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, Albert Ghiorso
Country
USA

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