Curium
Atomic number 96 means that every Curium nucleus contains 96 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Curium.
Start with the nucleus
Atomic number 96 means that every Curium nucleus contains 96 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Curium.
Curium (Cm) is chemical element 96. 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 and space power systems.
See the atom
Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.
What this number means
Atomic number 96 means that every Curium nucleus contains 96 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Curium.