Americium: Difference between revisions

Americium is one of the few radioactive elements that one should find in an object in every household- the smoke detector. Most smoke detectors contain a small amount of americium 241 (²⁴¹Am) in the compound americium dioxide. This form of americium undergoes radioactive decay primarily through [[alpha decay]] (α), but does emit small amounts of gamma rays as well.<ref name=world-nuclear.org/> The amount of radioactive material within smoke detectors is minimal. In fact, the amount of radioactive material found in a single smoke detector is so minuscule that about three million detectors could be made with a single gram of americium dioxide.<ref name=Chemicool.com/> Even though such a small amount of radioactive material is found within smoke detectors, and most of the gamma rays emitted harmlessly escape, tampering with the device is not advisable and could be harmful.<ref name=world-nuclear.org> [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Radioisotopes/Smoke-Detectors-and-Americium/ Smoke Detectors and Americium] ''World Nuclear Association''. Web. Author Unknown. Updated July 2014.</ref>