curium
Definition
Curium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cm and atomic number 96. It is a member of the actinide series, and it is the sixth transuranic element and the second transuranic element to be discovered, after neptunium.
Curium is a silvery-white metal that is very dense. It is also very radioactive, and it has a half-life of 162.5 years. This means that half of a sample of curium will decay into other elements in 162.5 years.
Curium is named after Marie and Pierre Curie, the discoverers of radium. Curium was first synthesised in 1944 by Glenn T. Seaborg, Arthur Wahl, and Edwin McMillan.
Curium has no biological role, and it is very toxic. It can cause cancer and other health problems. Curium is used in research, and it is also used in nuclear power plants.
How can the word be used?
Curium is used in nuclear reactors and in medical applications.
Different forms of the word
Noun: curium.
Adjective: curium.
Verb: curium, curiumed, curiuming.
Pronoun: curium.
Etymology
The word "curium" is named after Marie Curie, a Polish and naturalised French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person and the only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields.
Question
What is the origin of the word curium?
AQA Science Exam Question and Answer
Question:
Curium is a fascinating element with unique properties and applications. Discuss its discovery, main characteristics, and one significant use of curium in scientific research.
Answer:
Curium is a synthetic element that was first synthesised in 1944 by Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, and Albert Ghiorso at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. It is named after the renowned scientists Marie and Pierre Curie, who made significant contributions to the field of radioactivity.
Curium is a transuranium element, which means it has an atomic number greater than that of uranium (92). It is highly radioactive and is typically produced in nuclear reactors by bombarding plutonium or other transuranium elements with neutrons.
One significant use of curium in scientific research is as a neutron source. Due to its high radioactivity and spontaneous emission of neutrons, curium-244 is used as an efficient neutron emitter in neutron radiography and to start up nuclear reactors.
Overall, curium's discovery, radioactive nature, and its application as a neutron source make it an essential element in scientific research and nuclear technologies.