curium

cu·ri·um  (kyr-m)

n. Symbol Cm

A silvery metallic synthetic radioactive transuranic element. Its longest lived isotope is Cm 247 with a half-life of 16.4 million years. Atomic number 96; melting point (estimated) 1,350°C; valence 3. See Table at element.

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[After Marie Curie and Pierre Curie.]

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curium [ˈkjʊərɪəm]

n

(Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) a silvery-white metallic transuranic element artificially produced from plutonium. Symbol: Cm; atomic no.: 96; half-life of most stable isotope, ²⁴⁷Cm: 1.6 x 10⁷ years; valency: 3 and 4; relative density: 13.51 (calculated); melting pt.: 1345±400°C.

[New Latin, named after Pierre Curie (1859-1906), French physicist and chemist, and his wife Marie Curie (1867-1934), Polish-born French physicist and chemist]

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curium  (kyr-m)

Symbol Cm

A synthetic, silvery-white, radioactive metallic element of the actinide series that is produced artificially from plutonium or americium. Curium isotopes are used to provide electricity for satellites and space probes. Its most stable isotope has a half-life of 16.4 million years. Atomic number 96; melting point (estimated) 1,350°C; valence 3. See Periodic Table.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

curium - a radioactive transuranic metallic element; produced by bombarding plutonium with helium nuclei atomic number 96, Cm metal, metallic element - any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.