Curium

Curium
Symbol	Cm
Atomic number	96
Atomic mass	(247) amu

Curium, was discovered in 1944, named in honour of Pierre and Marie Curie, the pioneers of the field of radioactivity. Curium, with a half-life of 18.12 years, is a byproduct of americium. The metal resembles its analog, gadolinium, in having a relatively high melting point and in its magnetic properties.

Shown in the mage is a sample of curium hydroxide, the first know curium compound, collected in the bottom of a microcentrifuge tube.

See also

Periodic table of the elements