Symbol
Hf
  
Cf
  
Group Number
Not Available
  
Period Number
6
  
7
  
Block
d block
  
f block
  
Element Family
Transition Metal
  
Actinide
  
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
  
P63/mmc
  
Interesting Facts
- Hafnium metal is highly reactive, hence not found free in nature.
- Hafnium metal as predicated after Mendeleev finished his periodic table.
  
- Californium metal is very harmful and highly radioactive.
- Californium metal is the heaviest metal.
  
Sources
By-product Zirconium Refining
  
Made by Bombarding Curium with Helium Ions
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy
  
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  
Discovery
In 1922
  
In 1950
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Universe
Not Available
  
Abundance In Sun
~0.0000001 %
  
26
~-9999 %
  
Abundance In Meteorites
Not Available
  
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Not Available
  
Abundance In Oceans
Not Available
  
Uses & Benefits
- It has an ability to absorb neutrons and hence it is used to make control rods in nuclear submarines. And this metal is also used in Plasma welding torches.
-
It alloys with iron, titanium and niobium are very useful.
  
- Californium metal has a very strong neutron emitter. It is used as a metal detector.
-
It also used as an identifier to check Water and oil layers in oil wells.
  
Industrial Uses
Ammunition Industry
  
Chemical Industry
  
Medical Uses
NA
  
NA
  
Other Uses
Alloys, In Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Research, Research Purposes
  
Alloys, Nuclear Research
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Toxic
  
Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
No
  
No
  
In Blood
Not Available
  
0.00 Blood/mg dm-3
  
37
In Bone
Not Available
  
0.00 p.p.m.
  
36
Melting Point
2,150.00 °C
  
10
Boiling Point
1,470.00 °C
  
99+
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Solid
  
Color
Gray
  
Silver
  
Luster
Metallic
  
NA
  
Hardness
  
  
Brinell Hardness
1,450.00 MPa
  
6
Not Available
  
Vickers Hardness
1,520.00 MPa
  
5
Not Available
  
Speed of Sound
3,010.00 m/s
  
27
Not Available
  
Optical Properties
  
  
Allotropes
No
  
No
  
α Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
β Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
γ Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Chemical Formula
Hf
  
Cf
  
Isotopes
  
  
Electronegativity
  
  
Pauling Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Allen Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Electropositivity
  
  
Pauling Electropositivity
Ionization Energies
  
  
1st Energy Level
658.50 kJ/mol
  
40
608.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
2nd Energy Level
1,440.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
1,206.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3rd Energy Level
2,250.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
2,267.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
4th Energy Level
3,216.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3,599.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
Electrochemical Equivalent
1.66 g/amp-hr
  
99+
3.12 g/amp-hr
  
15
Electron Work Function
Not Available
  
Other Chemical Properties
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity, Solubility
  
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2
  
[Rn] 5f10 7s2
  
Crystal Structure
Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP)
  
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
  
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
  
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Californium.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Covalent Radius
Not Available
  
Van der Waals Radius
Not Available
  
Atomic Volume
13.60 cm3/mol
  
38
Not Available
  
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
81.00 (-eV)
  
16
44.50 (-eV)
  
38
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
  
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
  
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
  
Density
  
  
Density At Room Temperature
13.31 g/cm3
  
26
15.10 g/cm3
  
21
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
12.00 g/cm3
  
12
Not Available
  
Tensile Strength
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Vapor Pressure at 2000 K
Not Available
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Shear Modulus
Not Available
  
Bulk Modulus
Not Available
  
Young's Modulus
Not Available
  
Poisson Ratio
Not Available
  
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile, Malleable
  
Malleable, Sectile
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
  
Paramagnetic
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Conductor
  
Unknown
  
Resistivity
331.00 nΩ·m
  
14
Not Available
  
Electrical Conductivity
0.03 10
6/cm Ω
  
39
Not Available
  
Electron Affinity
0.00 kJ/mol
  
40
Not Available
  
Specific Heat
0.14 J/(kg K)
  
37
Not Available
  
Molar Heat Capacity
25.73 J/mol·K
  
36
Not Available
  
Thermal Conductivity
23.00 W/m·K
  
99+
Not Available
  
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
5.90 µm/(m·K)
  
99+
Not Available
  
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
661.10 kJ/mol
  
5
Not Available
  
Enthalpy of Fusion
25.10 kJ/mol
  
8
Not Available
  
Enthalpy of Atomization
703.00 kJ/mol
  
5
Not Available
  
Standard Molar Entropy
43.60 J/mol.K
  
34
Not Available