Californium is a radioactive
metal. Californium is a very strong neutron emitter. It is
used in portable metal detectors, for identifying gold and silver
ores, to identify water and oil layers in oil wells and to detect
metal fatigue and stress in aeroplanes. Californium has no known
biological role.
Californium is
a silvery-white
actinide metal with a melting point of **0 ± *0 °C (1,**0 ± *0 °F)
and an estimated boiling point of 1,**3 K (1,**0 °C; 2,**0
°F). The pure metal is malleable and is easily cut with a
razor blade.
Silver-white and metallic in appearance, with a melting
point of approximately **0°C. It is malleable and can be cut using
a razor blade. The material has a half-life of 2.**5 years and is a
strong neutron emitter, meaning it is extremely radioactive, and
not normally found in nature.