Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Am |
| Atomic Number | 95 |
| Atomic Mass | [243] u |
| Category | Actinide |
| Period | 7 |
| Group | 3 |
| Block | f |
| Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f⁷ 7s² |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Glenn Seaborg and colleagues Year of Discovery: 1944 Location: Chicago, USA (Manhattan Project)
Etymology
Named after the Americas.
Applications and Uses
- Smoke detectors (Am-241)—in most homes
- Industrial gauges
- Neutron sources
Interesting Facts
- Found in nearly every household smoke detector
- Named after America, paralleling europium (named after Europe)
- Produces mainly alpha radiation
- An average smoke detector contains about 1 microgram
- Discovered during the Manhattan Project but kept secret