californium

noun cal·i·for·ni·um \ˌka-lə-ˈfȯr-nē-əm\

Definition of CALIFORNIUM

: a radioactive element discovered by bombarding curium 242 with alpha particles — see element table

See californium defined for kids

New Latin, from California, United States

First Known Use: 1950

Medical Dictionary

noun cal·i·for·ni·um \ˌkal-ə-ˈfȯr-nē-əm\

: an artificially prepared radioactive element discovered by bombarding an isotope of curium with alpha particles—symbol Cf; see element table

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