curium

American  

[kyoor-ee-uhm] / ˈkyʊər i əm /

noun

1. a radioactive element not found in nature but discovered in 1944 among the products of plutonium after bombardment by high-energy helium ions. Cm; 96.

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curium British  

/ ˈkjʊərɪəm /

noun

1. a silvery-white metallic transuranic element artificially produced from plutonium. Symbol: Cm; atomic no: 96; half-life of most stable isotope, ²⁴⁷ Cm: 1.6 x 10 ⁷ years; valency: 3 and 4; relative density: 13.51 (calculated); melting pt: 1345±400°C

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curium Scientific  

/ kyr′ē-əm /

1. A synthetic, silvery-white, radioactive metallic element of the actinide series that is produced artificially from plutonium or americium. Curium isotopes are used to provide electricity for satellites and space probes. Its most stable isotope has a half-life of 16.4 million years. Atomic number 96; melting point (estimated) 1,350°C; valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of curium

1946; < New Latin; named after M. and P. Curie; see -ium

Example Sentences

The court’s one-page per curium order was followed by five separate concurring opinions and four separate dissents—totaling more than 200 pages altogether.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2022

Alternatively, Cotruvo suggests, captured americium and curium could be recycled back into nuclear fuel.

From Scientific American • Dec. 28, 2021

"Multinucleon transfer reactions" would involve firing, say, uranium onto curium at relatively low speeds—another "soft touching."

From Science Magazine • Jan. 30, 2019

Many are named after great scientists: einsteinium, curium, fermium, mendelevium, bohrium and rutherfordium.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2014

About 1 percent is other heavy elements such as curium, americium and plutonium-239.

From Washington Times • May 26, 2014