Berkelium
Atomic number 97 means that every Berkelium nucleus contains 97 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Berkelium.
Start with the nucleus
Atomic number 97 means that every Berkelium nucleus contains 97 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Berkelium.
Berkelium (Bk) is chemical element 97. It belongs to the actinoids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.
In practice, it turns up most often in scientific research.
See the atom
Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.
What this number means
Atomic number 97 means that every Berkelium nucleus contains 97 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Berkelium.