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.