Californium (Cf) Fun Facts
"The Neutron Star, a hero who emits a torrent of neutrons, starting nuclear reactors and fighting cancer."
The true essence of Californium (Cf) on the molecular frontier.
Californium is a silvery-white, radioactive, synthetic metal.
Californium is found as a neutron source used to start up nuclear reactors.
Californium is the most expensive element, valued at around $27 million per gram.
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Did You Know?
It was named after the state of California and the University of California, Berkeley, where it was discovered.
Californium-252 is an extremely powerful neutron emitter. One microgram can produce 170 million neutrons per minute.
This neutron-emitting property makes it useful for starting up nuclear reactors and as a portable neutron source for detecting gold and silver in ores.
It is also used in a type of radiation therapy for cancer called neutron brachytherapy.
Californium is the heaviest element that has been produced in weighable amounts.