Atomic number 98
Californium
Actinide
Quick facts
- Atomic mass
- 251.00
- Group
- —
- Period
- 7
- State (STP)
- solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.30
- Common ox. states
- +2, +3, +4
Properties
Electron configuration
[Rn] 5f¹⁰ 7s²
- Ionization energy
- 608.0 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- —
- Melting point
- 1173.00 K (899.9 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1743.00 K (1469.8 °C)
How it bonds· family overview
Californium (Cf) is an actinide. Like the lanthanides it tends toward a +3 oxidation state, but the early actinides (Th–Am) routinely access +4, +5, +6, even +7 because the 5f electrons are easier to ionize. Most actinides are radioactive; their "bonding" in school is read off the periodic table, not measured in lab.