Cf
Actinide
Californium
Z 98A 251mass 251
Atomic model
tap a particleEvery nucleon is drawn individually — 98 protons and 153 neutrons packed into the nucleus, with 98 electrons on shells outside.
98+1
Protons
Set the element — change this and it becomes a different atom.
1530
Neutrons
Change only these and you get a different isotope of the same element.
98−1
Electrons
Sit outside the nucleus and decide the chemistry, not the element.
Element data
- Nucleons
- 251 (98 p + 153 n)
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 28 · 8 · 2
- Valence shell
- 2 electrons
- Atomic mass
- 251 u
Stability
Californium has no measured radioactive isotope in this lab — its nuclei are stable, so decay must be shown as an illustration.
Open the decay lab