Isotopes of californium Isotopes of californium Californium (Cf) is an artificial element, and thus a standard atomic weight cannot be given. Like all artificial elements, it has no stable isotopes. The first isotope to be synthesized was Cf in 1950. There are 20 known radioisotopes ranging from Cf to Cf and one nuclear isomer, Cf. The longest-lived isotope is Cf with a half-life of 900 years. Californium-252 (Cf-252) undergoes spontaneous fission and is used in small sized neutron sources. Fission neutrons have an energy range of 0 to 13 MeV with a mean value of 2.3 MeV and a most probable value of
Californium compounds hexagonal structure. Californium(III) iodide (CfI) is a lemon-yellow solid that has a rhombohedral structure and sublimes at ~800 °C. Californium(III) oxyfluoride (CfOF) is prepared by hydrolysis of californium(III) fluoride (CfF) at high temperature. Californium(III) oxychloride (CfOCl) is prepared by hydrolysis of the hydrate of californium(III) chloride at 280–320 °C. Heating the sulfate in air at about 1200 °C and then reducing with hydrogen at 500 °C produces the sesquioxide (CfO). The hydroxide Cf(OH) and the trifluoride CfF are slightly soluble. Californium(III) oxychloride (CfOCl) was the first californium compound to be discovered. Californium(III) polyborate is unusual in that californium is covalently