curium
/ˈkjʊərɪəm
/noun [mass noun]
The chemical element of atomic number 96, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. Curium does not occur naturally and was first made by bombarding plutonium with helium ions. (Symbol: Cm) The lifetimes of the first ‘transuranium’ elements - such as plutonium, curium and californium - were very close to the values predicted by the liquid-drop model....
- Release of plutonium, americium and curium could occur from laboratory or industrial accidents.
- It is prepared artificially by bombarding curium with alpha particles in a particle accelerator.
Origin
1940s: modern Latin, from the name of Marie and Pierre Curie.