Noun
a radioactive transuranic element; discovered by bombarding americium with helium
Source: WordNetDifficulty in studying its properties is due to einsteinium-253's conversion to berkelium and then californium at a rate of about 3% per day. Source: Internet
For reasons of military secrecy, this result was published only in 1956. citation Nuclear reactors produce mostly, among the berkelium isotopes, berkelium-249. Source: Internet
Fourteen isotopes of berkelium were identified with mass numbers 238–252. Source: Internet
From there, about 65% goes to the bones, where it remains for about 50 years, 25% to the lungs (biological half-life about 20 years), 0.035% to the testicles or 0.01% to the ovaries where berkelium stays indefinitely. Source: Internet
It can be prepared by introducing hydrogen chloride vapors into an evacuated quartz tube containing berkelium oxide at a temperature about 500 °C. Source: Internet
Just over one gram of berkelium has been produced in the United States since 1967. Source: Internet