🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Curium
• Discovered By: Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, Albert Ghiorso
• Year of Discovery: 1944
• Category: Actinide Series / Radioactive Metal
• Group: Actinides (no formal group number)
• State at Room Temperature: Solid 🧊

Curium is a synthetic, radioactive metal and is not found naturally. It is produced in nuclear reactors by bombarding plutonium or uranium with neutrons.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: Cm
• Atomic Number: 96
• Atomic Mass: ~247 u
• Valency: Usually +3
• Electronic Configuration: [Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s²

Curium is chemically similar to other actinides like americium and plutonium and glows faintly in the dark due to radioactive decay.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Curium is named in honor of Marie and Pierre Curie, pioneers in the study of radioactivity 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬. It was discovered during the Manhattan Project and was the third transuranic element ever made.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Glows in the dark due to intense alpha radiation ✨
• Curium-244 and Curium-242 are the most commonly used isotopes
• Very radioactive and toxic, requiring special handling and shielding ☢️
• Used as a power source in space probes through radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) 🚀
• Named to honor two of the most famous scientists in history — a rare tribute!

🔧 Common Uses

✔️ Space Exploration:
Used in RTGs to power spacecraft, rovers, and satellites far from the Sun

✔️ Scientific Research:
Studied to understand nuclear fission, actinide chemistry, and radiation behavior

✔️ Neutron Source:
Curium is used in neutron moisture gauges and neutron radiography

📚 Conclusion

Curium is a radioactive, man-made element named after science icons. It plays a big role in space missions and advanced nuclear research. For students, Curium shows how discoveries in nuclear science help us explore space and energy while remembering the scientists who led the way. 🌍🚀