Californium-237

Properties and data of the isotope ²³⁷Cf.

Content

General data

Name of the isotope:Californium-237; Cf-237Symbol:²³⁷Cf or 23798CfMass number A:237 (= number of nucleons)Atomic number Z:98 (= number of protons)Neutrons N:139Isotopic mass:237.06220(9) u (atomic weight of Californium-237)Nuclide mass:237.0084469 u (calculated nuclear mass without electrons)Mass excess:57.93893 MeVMass defect:1.90907646 u (per nucleus)Nuclear binding energy:1778.29326803 MeV (per nucleus)
7.50334712 MeV (average binding energy per nucleon)Separation energy:
S_P = 2.89(41) MeV (first proton)Half-life:2.1(3) sDecay constant λ:0.33007008598093 s^-1Specific activity α:8.387040301386 × 10⁺²⁰ Bq g^-1
22667676490.234 Ci g^-1Spin and parity:
(nuclear angular momentum)Year of discovery:1995

Radioactive Decay

Half-life T_½ = 2.1(3) s.

Decay mode	Daughter	Probability	Decay energy	γ energy (intensity)
SZ

Isotones and Isobars

The following table shows the atomic nuclei that are isotonic (same neutron number N = 139) and isobaric (same nucleon number A = 237) with Californium-237. Naturally occurring isotopes are marked in green; light green = naturally occurring radionuclides.

OZ	Isotone N = 139	Isobar A = 237
83	²²²Bi
84	²²³Po
85	²²⁴At
86	²²⁵Rn
87	²²⁶Fr
88	²²⁷Ra
89	²²⁸Ac
90	²²⁹Th	²³⁷Th
91	²³⁰Pa	²³⁷Pa
92	²³¹U	²³⁷U
93	²³²Np	²³⁷Np
94	²³³Pu	²³⁷Pu
95	²³⁴Am	²³⁷Am
96	²³⁵Cm	²³⁷Cm
97	²³⁶Bk	²³⁷Bk
98	²³⁷Cf	²³⁷Cf