Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Californium

Atomic number 98 means that every Californium nucleus contains 98 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Californium.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 98 means that every Californium nucleus contains 98 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Californium.

Californium (Cf) is chemical element 98. 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.

Californium sits in period 7 and the F block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 98 means that every Californium nucleus contains 98 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Californium.

Keep exploring

→ Californium · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

98CfCalifornium
Californium · Cf · Z = 98

Californium (Cf) is chemical element 98. 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.

Understanding the element

Californium (Cf) is chemical element 98. 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.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in neutron sources and scientific research.

What its position in the table tells us

Californium sits in period 7 and the F block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.