Chemical Elements History and Information Californium

About the chemical element Californium, its symbol, atomic number and weight, who discovered it and when.

The Atomic Elements and Their Uses

(Element) (Symbol) (Atomic number) (Atomic weight)

Californium Cf 98 (251)

Discovered by Albert Ghiorso, Glenn Seaborg, Kenneth Street, and Stanley Thompson of the U.S. in 1950. The world's most expensive substance, this man-made element is sold by the Atomic Energy Commission at $1,000 per microgram. At this rate, 1 lb. would cost $530 billion. Californium is used as a portable source of neutrons for radiographic marking of mine shafts and pipelines.