berkelium

UK: /bɜːˈkiːlɪəm/, /ˈbɜːklɪəm/ US: (bər kē′lē əm)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ber•ke•li•um  (bər kē′lē əm), n. [Chem.]

1. Chemistry a transuranic element. Symbol: Bk;
   at. no.: 97;
   at. wt.: 249 (?).

• 1945–50; named after Berkeley, California, where it was discovered; see -ium

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

berkelium / bɜːˈkiːlɪəm ˈbɜːklɪəm/ noun

1. a metallic transuranic element produced by bombardment of americium. Symbol: Bk; atomic no: 97; half-life of most stable isotope, ²⁴⁷Bk: 1400 years; valency: 3 or 4; relative density: 14 (est)

Etymology: 20th Century: named after Berkeley¹, where it was discovered