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| '''Americium''' is a [[radioactive]] [[chemical element]] that is classified as a [[transition metal]] and an [[actinide]]. It is the most commercialized and publicly used radioactive element in the [[periodic table]] with one of its main uses being an important component in household smoke detectors that help detect the presence of fires. | | == Introduction == |
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| == Properties == | | == Properties == |
| Americium is a silvery white synthetic metal. When Americium is left out, it begins to tarnish in the dry air, and is resistant to [[alkalis]]. Americium is seen to be more dense than lead had its own distinct color to it.
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| == Occurrences == | | == Occurrences == |
| [[File:Nuclear power plant.jpg|thumb|150px|left|A Photo of a Nuclear power plant that has a byproduct of americium from Plutonium]] | | [[File:example.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] |
| The element Americium does not naturally occur in nature. It however is formed by bombarding Plutonium (Pu-244) with electrons.<ref>Occurrences and Health risks [http://www.bookrags.com/research/americium/Americium occurrence and health Information]. ''Book Rags''. Web.2005-06.</ref>. Americium-243 is made from the release of isotopes from Plutonium-239 in the nuclear reactions. <ref>Americium Properties[http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/am.htm Physical properties on Americium]. ''Lenntech''. Web. November 3 2011.</ref>
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| == Uses == | | == Uses == |
| [[File:Americium fire detector.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Fire alarm with americium within. By topquark22]] | | [[File:example.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] |
| Americium is used very frequently in every home in the United States has or should have smoke detectors. In household smoke detectors there is artificially produced radioisotope Americium-241 which is usually made in nuclear reactors. Smoke detectors are a key role in household safety and protection. There are two types of fire detectors, the ones that use americium are most popular and detect smoke by using a small piece of the element and projecting small amount of elements to sense the presence of smoke. <ref>U.S., Australian, and Canadian Nuclear safety Agencies. [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf57.html Smoke Detectors and Americium]. ''World-Nuclear-Association''. Web. January 2009.</ref> The americium smoke detectors emit Am-241 of alpha particles and low gamma rays and takes the alpha particles being made to collide with the oxygen and nitrogen in the air inside of the ionization chamber to create charged ion particles. These ions being made flow across a small electrical charged line and when smoke enters the chamber and hinders the electron ions to flow and the alarm then is triggered. The radiation produced by the alarms is almost close to zero radiation harm to the occupants of the household. The particles are also absorbed into the detector itself to not harm others. The element Americium could as well be swallowed without hardly any harm to the individual.<ref>U.S., Australian, and Canadian Nuclear safety Agencies. [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf57.html Smoke Detectors and Americium]. ''World-Nuclear-Association''. Web. January 2009.</ref>
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| | == Other== |
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| == Discovery ==
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| Americium was found while experimenting during WWII. The scientists were experimenting on how to make the first atomic bomb, and was created by the research team of the University of California, at the University of Chicago, and discovered the element later named Americium.<ref>Thomson Gale, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. [http://www.bookrags.com/research/americium/History and facts about Americium]. '' Americium from Chemical Elements''. Web/ Book. 2005-2006.</ref>. Ultimately Americium was named after the continent America or USA(United States of America) while the continent was named after the man Amerigo Vespucci(1454-1512)who made multiple voyages to the "New World" after Christopher Columbus. Amerigo's notes were seen by the Europeans and they thus named the continent America in 1506.<ref>Elementymology & Elements Multidict [http://elements.vanderkrogt.net/element.php?sym=am History about Americium and Amerigo Vespucci]. '' History & Etymology of Americium”. Web. Nov 17, 2011.</ref>
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| == Health Risks == | | == Video == |
| Americium being in the smoke detectors at home gives us some dose of radioactive particles but only 0.014 mrem to a person who is sleeping for 8 hr at about 6ft away form a smoke detector. Americium can cause cancer but only in huge doses, if ingested or inhaled Americium would be absorbed through the skeleton and the liver. For Am-241 it could be ingested and not cause damage from a normal smoke detector if the Am-241 is dioxide insoluble form witch most house hold detectors use and cause little to no radiation poisoning <ref> [http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/rp/factsheets/factsheets-pdf/fs23am241.pdf Americium-241]. ''Washington State Department of Health: Division of Environmental Health''. November 2002. Author unknown.</ref>. We are exposed to americium by ingesting food but its only a minor fraction if its from the original americium. Also you have a higher probability of getting Americium poisoning if you live or work near a nuclear power plant. Long exposures can cause numerous diseases including cancer and bone cancer<ref>[http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/am.htm Americium - Am] ''Lenntech''. Web. Accessed Nov. 17, 2011. Author unknown.</ref>.
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| == References == | | == References == |
