How is curium used?

Answer 1

- Uses for thermoelectric generators (Cm 242 and Cm 244); now these isotopes has some disadvantages.

- Also for the analysis of rocks on other planets; curium is used as particle source for alpha particle X-ray spectrometers

- experiments in chemistry/physics of superheavy elements

Answer 2

Curium is a silvery white metallic radioactive element. Curium is a synthetic chemical element with the symbol Cm and atomic number 96. A radioactive metallic transuranic element of the actinide series, curium is produced by bombarding plutonium with alpha particles (helium ions) and was named for Marie Curie and her husband Pierre.

Answer 3

Curium is very scarce and expensive; today curium has only limited applications:

- isotopes 242Cm and 244Cm are used as alpha particles sources for α-spectrometers mounted on spacecraft engines to analyze planetary or cosmic samples.

- precursor in the preparation of 238Pu and of isotopes of Sg, Hs, Cf, etc.

In the past some other uses were proposed.

Answer 4

The curium isotopes 242Cm, 243Cm and 244Cm can be used as:

- alpha particles emitters

- source in isotopic heat generators

Answer 5

Curium is a member of the actinoids family, also in the period 7 of the Periodic Table of Mendeleev; it is a metal, solid, artificial, radioactive, unstable, chemically reactive.

Answer 6

- in laboratory, following the nuclear reaction:

239Pu + 4He → 242Cm + 1n

- curium isotopes are also obtained in nuclear power reactors

Answer 7

its under the transition groups