An artificial radioactive element with atomic number 95 (symbol Am), produced in nuclear explosions and reactors; emits alpha particles. See; Alpha Decay, Fission Products, Radioactivity.
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; discovered by bombarding uranium with helium atoms
a silvery metal; it is a man-made element whose isotopes americium-237 through -246 are all radioactive. Americium-241 is formed spontaneously by the beta decay of plutonium-241. Trace quantities of americium are widely used in smoke detectors, and as neutron sources in neutron moisture gauges. Americium Smoke Alarms[] [ Click "BackButton" for previous location
A manmade element. Americium is a metal that is slightly heavier than lead. Americium-241 is produced by the radioactive decay of plutonium-241; in addition to being an alpha-emitter, it is an emitter of gamma rays. Americium-241 has a half-life of 433 years.
A fissionable, artificial element that can be used to produce nuclear explosives. The principal isotope, americium 241, is created as a result of the decay of plutonium 241. Other important isotopes are americium 242 and 243.
Americium (IPA: ) is a synthetic element in the periodic table that has the symbol Am and atomic number 95. A radioactive metallic element, americium is an actinide that was obtained by bombarding plutonium with neutrons and was the fourth transuranic element to be discovered. It was named for the Americas, by analogy with europium.
