Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Bk |
| Atomic Number | 97 |
| Atomic Mass | [247] u |
| Category | Actinide |
| Period | 7 |
| Group | 3 |
| Block | f |
| Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f⁹ 7s² |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Glenn Seaborg, Stanley Thompson, and Albert Ghiorso Year of Discovery: 1949 Location: Berkeley, California, USA
Etymology
Named after Berkeley, California, where it was discovered at UC Berkeley.
Properties
- No practical applications
- Used to synthesize heavier elements
- Only about 1 gram has ever been produced
Interesting Facts
- Named after Berkeley, California
- Parallels terbium (named after Ytterby)
- Used as target material for making heavier elements
- Has been produced in only gram quantities
- Very expensive—estimated at $27 million per gram