110,311
edits
Americium: Difference between revisions
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
Jump to navigationJump to search
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 56: | Line 56: | ||
{{isotope-u|<sup>249</sup>Am|SYN|No Data||<ref name=EnvironmentalChemistry.com/>|}} | {{isotope-u|<sup>249</sup>Am|SYN|No Data||<ref name=EnvironmentalChemistry.com/>|}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Americium''' is a [[chemical element]] classified as an [[Actinide]] and known by the [[chemical symbol]] Am. It is a synthetic (man-made) 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 | '''Americium''' is a [[chemical element]] classified as an [[Actinide]] and known by the [[chemical symbol]] Am. It is a synthetic (man-made) 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 lanthanide 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. For example, traces of americium are used in household smoke detectors. Americium can also occasionally be used as a portable source of gamma radiation. | During nuclear decay Americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am) emits both [[alpha particles]] as well as [[gamma rays]], giving it several uses. For example, traces of americium are used in household smoke detectors. Americium can also occasionally be used as a portable source of gamma radiation. | ||
== Properties == | == Properties == | ||
[[File:Americium1.jpg|thumb|150px|left|A picture of americium 243]] | [[File:Americium1.jpg|thumb|150px|left|A picture of americium 243]] | ||
Americium, a member of the [[actinides]], is a silver-white [[metal]].<ref name=Chemicool.com> [http://www.chemicool.com/elements/americium.html Americium] ''Chemicool.com''. Web. Author Unknown Published 15 October 2012.</ref> With an [[atomic number]] of ninety-five and a mass number of two hundred forty-three, this element only occurs in unstable, [[radioactive]] isotopes. As there are no stable forms of Americium, each form has a [[half life]] between five nanoseconds and 7370 years.<ref name=EnvironmentalChemistry.com/> With a melting point of 1176 <sup>o</sup>C (1449.15 K) and a boiling point of 2607 <sup>o</sup>C (2880 K), americium is found in a solid state in room temperature.<ref name=rsc.orgr> [http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/95/americium Americium] ''Royal Society of Chemistry''. Web. Author Unknown. Accessed 11 Oct 2014.</ref> Similar to many other metals, Americium tarnishes very slowly when exposed to air. When placed in acids, this element dissolves.<ref name=world-nuclear.org/> All isotopes of this element are radioactive, but the most common forms emit [[alpha particles]]. Because of the intense radiation, americium can be extremely dangerous to anyone without proper protective equipment and adequate knowledge of how to handle it.<ref name=EnvironmentalChemistry.com>Barbalance, Kenneth. [http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Am.html Periodic Table of Elements Element Americium - Am] ''EnvironmentalChemistry.com''. Web. Accessed 11 Oct 2014.</ref> | Americium, a member of the [[actinides]], is a silver-white [[metal]].<ref name=Chemicool.com> [http://www.chemicool.com/elements/americium.html Americium] ''Chemicool.com''. Web. Author Unknown Published 15 October 2012.</ref> With an [[atomic number]] of ninety-five and a mass number of two hundred forty-three, this element only occurs in unstable, [[radioactive]] isotopes. As there are no stable forms of Americium, each form has a [[half life]] between five nanoseconds and 7370 years.<ref name=EnvironmentalChemistry.com/> With a melting point of 1176 <sup>o</sup>C (1449.15 K) and a boiling point of 2607 <sup>o</sup>C (2880 K), americium is found in a solid state in room temperature.<ref name=rsc.orgr> [http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/95/americium Americium] ''Royal Society of Chemistry''. Web. Author Unknown. Accessed 11 Oct 2014.</ref> Similar to many other metals, Americium tarnishes very slowly when exposed to air. When placed in acids, this element dissolves.<ref name=world-nuclear.org/> All isotopes of this element are radioactive, but the most common forms emit [[alpha particles]]. Because of the intense radiation, americium can be extremely dangerous to anyone without proper protective equipment and adequate knowledge of how to handle it.<ref name=EnvironmentalChemistry.com>Barbalance, Kenneth. [http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Am.html Periodic Table of Elements Element Americium - Am] ''EnvironmentalChemistry.com''. Web. Accessed 11 Oct 2014.</ref> | ||
== | == Synthesis == | ||
Americium, like other [[transuranium]] elements does not occur naturally. All forms of this element are synthetically produced.<ref name=chemistryexplained.com>[http://www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/A-C/Americium.html Americium] ''Chemistry Explained''. Web. Author Unknown. Accessed October 25, 2014.</ref> Americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am) was first produced through a process of bombarding [[plutonium]] 239 (<sup>239</sup>Pu) with neutrons, resulting in [[plutonium]] 241 (<sup>241</sup>Pu). This new, unstable isotope decays through [[beta decay]] into americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am). | Americium, like other [[transuranium]] elements does not occur naturally. All forms of this element are synthetically produced.<ref name=chemistryexplained.com>[http://www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/A-C/Americium.html Americium] ''Chemistry Explained''. Web. Author Unknown. Accessed October 25, 2014.</ref> Americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am) was first produced through a process of bombarding [[plutonium]] 239 (<sup>239</sup>Pu) with neutrons, resulting in [[plutonium]] 241 (<sup>241</sup>Pu). This new, unstable isotope decays through [[beta decay]] into americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am). | ||
| Line 72: | Line 71: | ||
Americium is one of the few radioactive elements that one should find in a common household object- the smoke detector. Most smoke detectors contain a small amount of americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am) 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> | Americium is one of the few radioactive elements that one should find in a common household object- the smoke detector. Most smoke detectors contain a small amount of americium 241 (<sup>241</sup>Am) 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> | ||
Inside the smoke detector, the americium is located within an ionization chamber where the emitted alpha particles collide with air particles to produce ions. A battery produces a small electric current that runs across these ions. When smoke enters the ionization chamber, its particles neutralize the charge of the ions and interfere with the flow of electricity, and therefore setting off the alarm.<ref name=world-nuclear.org/> | Inside the smoke detector, the americium is located within an ionization chamber where the emitted alpha particles collide with air particles to produce ions. A battery produces a small electric current that runs across these ions. When smoke enters the ionization chamber, its particles neutralize the charge of the ions and interfere with the flow of electricity, and therefore setting off the alarm.<ref name=world-nuclear.org/> | ||
| Line 86: | Line 84: | ||
This video explains some of the basic properties of americium and describes how it is used in household smoke detectors. | This video explains some of the basic properties of americium and describes how it is used in household smoke detectors. | ||
{{#ev:youtube|CC-L-CITg3k}} | {{#ev:youtube|CC-L-CITg3k}} | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
