Berkelium physical properties

Berkelium is a metallic element located in group 11 (IB) of the transuranic subseries of the actinide series. Berkelium is located just below the rare-earth metal terbium in the lanthanide series of the periodic table. Therefore, it has many chemical and physical properties similar to terbium ( Tb). Its isotopes are very reactive and are not found in nature. Only small amounts have been artificially produced in particle accelerators and by alpha and beta decay. 

Intermetallic compounds, various alloys, and additional semimetallic compounds of berkelium should be prepared and characterized to extend the knowledge of the physicochemical behavior of berkelium in these kinds of solids. Studies of such materials under pressure would be of interest in determining the effects of the non-berkelium component on physical properties such as bulk modulus (compressibility), pressure for the onset of 5f-electron delocalization, and possible volume collapse associated with a change in the metallic valence of Bk from 3 to 4. 

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