Curium is a chemical element. It is a radioactive metal. It has the chemical symbol Cm. It has the atomic number 96. In chemistry it is placed in a group of metal elements named the actinides. Curium is a transuranic element. It is a radioactive element that does not exist in nature. Curium has to be made in a lab. Curium has a silver color and it is made by bombarding a plutonium target with alpha particles (helium ions). Curium was named after Marie Curie and her husband Pierre.