Berkelium-247 is a synthetic radioactive isotope of the element berkelium, which is part of the actinide series in the periodic table. It has an atomic number of 97 and is produced in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. Berkelium-247 has a half-life of about 1,380 days, decaying primarily through alpha decay into californium-243. This isotope is used mainly for research purposes in nuclear chemistry and physics. Due to its radioactivity, handling berkelium-247 requires special precautions to ensure safety. Its discovery in 1949 was part of ongoing efforts to explore and understand the properties of heavy elements.