Berkelium Unveiled: The Synthetic Element That Shaped the Periodic Table

Join us for a deep dive into berkelium (Bk, atomic number 97): a synthetic, radioactive metal discovered at UC Berkeley in 1949 by Glenn T. Seaborg and his team. We explore how berkelium is made in tiny amounts, its key isotopes (Bk-247 and Bk-249) and what they reveal about decay and transmutation, its role in creating heavier elements like tennessine, and why this elusive element remains primarily a research tool with notable safety and production challenges.

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