Californium - Periodic Table of Videos

The script begins with a historical account of the discovery of Californium-14, initially known for its military applications. It then transitions to the current understanding of Californium, highlighting Brady's visit to the Oak Ridge National Lab, where Californium is manufactured. The lab's reactor is described as a key component in creating new elements from Uranium through intense neutron flux. The process involves irradiating small pellets in aluminum, which are then used to extract newly formed elements, including Californium. The script also mentions the handling and storage of Californium samples, emphasizing the element's radioactivity and its use in creating heavier elements like Ganeshan, synthesized in Dubna, Russia. The potential for creating elements 119 or 120 is also discussed, along with the challenges of working with such radioactive materials.

This paragraph delves into the technical process of creating target rods for irradiation in a reactor. It describes the transformation of fin tubing into precise shapes, the insertion of pellets made from Curium oxide and aluminum, and the remote welding process. The targets are then prepared for irradiation in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), where they are submerged in a storage pool and later placed in the flux trap for maximum neutron exposure. The goal is to transmute Curium isotopes into higher actinide isotopes, including Californium, through neutron capture and beta decay. After irradiation, the targets are allowed to decay, and the radiochemical processing begins, aiming to separate the desired actinides from fission products and other waste.

The script outlines the complex radiochemical process of dissolving the irradiated targets and separating the valuable actinides from the unwanted Lanthanides using a lithium chloride and anion exchange method. This process, developed by Greg Chopin, is still in use today. The actinides are then further processed through various chemical methods, including the Alpha Hydroxy Isobutyric Acid (AHIB) process, developed by Darlene Hoffman, to separate different actinide elements based on their atomic radii. The script also discusses the challenges and the art of handling and purifying these radioactive materials, emphasizing the uniqueness of each processing campaign.

This section highlights the unique properties of Californium-252, which has a half-life of 2.6 years and decays by fission, making it a valuable thermal neutron source. Its applications in industrial analyzers for materials like coal and cement are discussed, as well as its use in ensuring uniformity in nuclear fuel rods and as a startup source for nuclear reactors. The script also touches on the form in which these isotopes are shipped, typically as dried nitric acid forms for elements like Einsteinium and Berkelium, and as wire for Californium-252 used in industrial sources. The high value of Californium-252 is mentioned, with a figure of 27 million dollars per gram, emphasizing its rarity and the effort required to produce it.

The final paragraph explores the frontiers of Californium chemistry, focusing on organometallic compounds where metal-carbon bonds are formed. The script describes the synthesis of a deep ruby-red Californium compound and the scientific interest in understanding the color difference when compared to Dysprosium and other related compounds. The research not only involved creating the compound but also growing crystals large enough for visual observation. The script concludes by reflecting on the importance of such research for advancing knowledge, refining computational techniques, and learning to manipulate small quantities of highly radioactive compounds, despite the compound's limited practical applications.