lawrencium [Lr]

Introduction

Named for Ernest G Lawrence, inventor of the cyclotron. First synthesized in 1961 by Albert Ghiorso, Torbjorn Sikkeland, Almon E Larsh & Robert M Latimer in Berkeley California.

Occurrence

• produced artificially from californium-251 with boron-11

Characteristics

• solid metal of unknown color
• highly radioactive; Lr-257 1/2life of 8 seconds

Uses

none

More general terms

• actinide
• radioactive element

Additional terms

• periodic table