The Element Americium

Americium is an actinide that was obtained by bombarding plutonium with neutrons and was the fourth transuranic element to be discovered. The luster of freshly prepared americium metal is whiter and more silvery than plutonium prepared in the same manner. The special feature is that americium can be produced in kilograms.

The most common industrial use of americium is its usage in smoke detectors. With that americium becomes the only synthetically produced element to enter household usage. Its various isotopes have also been used in radiography and neutron radiography. 

 


Atomic Number & Chemical Properties


Element Basics:

Chemical Symbol: Am
Atomic Number: 95
Atomic Weight: 243.0614
Element Classification: Radioactive Rare Earth Element (Actinide Series)
Discovered By: G.T.Seaborg, R.A.James, L.O.Morgan, A.Ghiorso
Date of Discovery: 1945 (United States)
Origin of Name: Named for the American continent, by analogy with europium.

How to Recognize it at a Party:

Silvery-white, radioactive metal

Seriously Atomic Information:

Density (g/cc): 13.67
Melting Point (°K): 1267
Boiling Point (°K): 2880
Atomic Radius (pm): 173
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 20.8
Covalent Radius (pm): n/a
Ionic Radius: 92 (+4e) 107 (+3e)
Pauling Negativity Number: 1.3
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): n/a
Oxidation States: 6, 5, 4, 3
Electronic Configuration: [Rn] 5f7 7s2

Getting Intimate with Americium:

Lattice Structure: n/a
Lattice Constant (Å): n/a
Lattice C/A Ratio: n/a
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): n/a
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): (10.0)
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 238.5
Thermal Conductivity (@25°C W/m K):
Debye Temperature (°K): n/a


Society's Questions About Americium:

Have you ever wondered what everyone else in the world thinks about Americium? Is anyone else looking for it too? If so, why? What do they want?

The following list shows the most common online questions about the element Americium. Are your questions the same or different from everyone else's?

Top Americium Topics:

  • americium 186
  • element americium and its physical properties 17
  • what is americium chloride used for 15
  • compounds americium make 14
  • what does americium look like 14
  • the chemical properties of the element americium 12
  • a picture of americium 10
  • americium 241 msds 10
  • who discovered americium 10
  • americiums actual form 8
  • what is americium bromide used for 8
  • americium 241 and msds and qsa 7
  • americiums pure form 7
  • formula for americium dioxide 7
  • what is the normal phase of americium 7
  • americium 241 5
  • americium 241 and msds 5
  • americium atom 5
  • americium sealed source msds 5
  • americiums physical state at room teemperature 5
  • amersham americium msds 5
  • element americium and its characteristics 5
  • half life americium plutonium 5
  • price of americium 5
  • where is americium found 5
  • americia coliniest food for kids 3
  • americium 291 3
  • americium detector smoke 3
  • americium structure 3
  • dose to curie for americium 3
  • explorers of americia 3
  • number of electrons americium 3
  • what family does americium belong to 3
  • what family is americium part of 3
  • what is americium flouride used for 3
  • what is americium iodide used for 3
  • what is americium oxide used for 3
  • who discoverd americium 3