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californium
[ kal-uh-fawr-nee-uhm ]
/ ˌkæl əˈfɔr ni əm /
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noun Chemistry.
a transuranic element. Symbol: Cf; atomic number: 98.
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Origin of californium
1945–50; named after the University of California where it was discovered; see -ium
Words nearby californium
California quail, California roll, California rose, California rosebay, californite, californium, caliginous, Caligula, calimanco, Calimere, calimocho
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use californium in a sentence
One milligram of californium-252 will spontaneously produce over 10⁹ neutrons per second.
The Atomic Fingerprint|Bernard Keisch
British Dictionary definitions for californium
californium
/ (ˌkælɪˈfɔːnɪəm) /
noun
a metallic transuranic element artificially produced from curium. Symbol: Cf; atomic no: 98; half-life of most stable isotope, 251 Cf: 800 years (approx.)
Word Origin for californium
C20: New Latin; discovered at the University of California
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for californium
californium
[ kăl′ə-fôr′nē-əm ]
Cf
A synthetic, radioactive metallic element of the actinide series that is produced from curium or berkelium and is used in chemical analyses. Its most stable isotope, Cf 251, has a half-life of 800 years. Atomic number 98. See Periodic Table.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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