771
edits
Americium: Difference between revisions
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
Jump to navigationJump to search
→Introduction
| Line 58: | Line 58: | ||
}} | }} | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Americium, the ninety-fifth element on the [[periodic table]] is a synthetic metal that only occurs in radioactive isotopes. Discovered in 1944 by scientists in the Manhattan project, americium was a bi-product of experiments with [[plutonium]]. | Americium, the ninety-fifth element on the [[periodic table]] is a synthetic metal that only occurs in radioactive isotopes. Discovered in 1944 by scientists in the Manhattan project, americium was a bi-product of experiments with [[plutonium]]. The name americium comes from the element above it in the lanthinide series, [[europium]]. Just as europium takes its name from the continent Europe, americium is named after America. | ||
Americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am) emits both alpha particles as well as gamma rays, giving it several uses. traces of americium are used in household smoke detectors. Americium can also occasionally be used as a portable source of gamma radiation. | Americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am) emits both alpha particles as well as gamma rays, giving it several uses. traces of americium are used in household smoke detectors. Americium can also occasionally be used as a portable source of gamma radiation. | ||
