Am
Americium
Actinide
Americium is a synthetic radioactive element commonly used in smoke detectors. It is produced in nuclear reactors from plutonium.
Key Facts
Atomic Number
95
Atomic Weight
243
State
Solid
Half-life
7,370 years (Am-241)
Discovered
1944
Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, Leon O. Morgan, Albert Ghiorso
Overview
Description
Americium is a synthetic radioactive element commonly used in smoke detectors. It is produced in nuclear reactors from plutonium.
Discovery
Americium was discovered in 1944 by Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, Leon O. Morgan, Albert Ghiorso.