Curium (Cm): Properties, Uses and Facts in 3D

Curium is element 96 on the periodic table, an actinide, so it is a metal. At room temperature it is a solid. Open it in the 3D Periodic Table to spin its tile, see its electron shells and read its story.

Open Curium in 3D All 118 elements

Curium (Cm) shown in the VisionVix 3D Periodic Table — Curium in the VisionVix 3D Periodic Table. Click the picture to open it live.

Curium quick facts

Atomic number	96
Symbol	Cm
Atomic mass	247
Category	Actinide
Series and period	Actinides, period 7
Block	f-block
State at room temperature	Solid
Electron configuration	[Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s²
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 18, 32, 25, 9, 2
Discovered	1944, Seaborg

What is curium used for?

Alpha particle X-ray spectrometers (Mars rovers)
Scientific research
Radiation sources

Interesting facts about curium

Mars rovers (Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity) carried curium-244 as an alpha source for rock analysis
Named in honour of Pierre and Marie Curie
Curium was created secretly during the Manhattan Project and only announced after WWII

Curium was discovered in 1944 by Seaborg in the United States.

Where curium sits on the periodic table

Curium is in the actinide series (period 7). Tap any element to open its page.

HHe Li BeB C N O F Ne Na MgAl Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe Cs BaHf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn Fr RaRf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts OgLa Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb LuAc Th Pa U Np Pu AmCmBk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr

Previous element95. Americium Next element97. Berkelium

Other actinides

89Actinium (Ac)90Thorium (Th)91Protactinium (Pa)92Uranium (U)93Neptunium (Np)94Plutonium (Pu)95Americium (Am)97Berkelium (Bk)

Curium questions

What is the atomic number of curium?

Curium has atomic number 96, so every curium atom has 96 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Cm and its atomic mass is 247.

Is curium a metal?

Curium is a metal. On the periodic table it is grouped as an actinide, found in the actinide series (period 7).

What is the electron configuration of curium?

The electron configuration of curium is [Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s². Its electrons sit in 7 shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 25, 9, 2.

What is curium used for?

Curium is used for alpha particle x-ray spectrometers (mars rovers), scientific research and radiation sources.

Who discovered curium?

Curium was discovered in 1944 by Seaborg in the United States.

The 3D Periodic Table is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.