noun
- A synthetic radioactive chemical element with atomic number 98, produced artificially and used in nuclear research and medical applications.
Usage: chemistry; physics; symbol: Cf
Examples
- Californium was first synthesized in 1950 at the University of California.
- The element californium is named after the state of California and the University of California.
- Californium-252 is used as a neutron source in medical imaging and cancer treatment.
- Scientists use californium in nuclear reactors to study particle behavior.
- Californium is one of the heaviest elements that can be produced in significant quantities.