Americium

Nuclear Engineering Significance

Minor actinide produced by Pu-241 beta decay (t₁/₂ = 14.3 y). Am-241 (t₁/₂ = 432 y) is a dominant heat source in stored spent fuel and plutonium stockpiles, and a major contributor to long-term waste radiotoxicity. Am-241 is also used in commercial smoke detectors and as a neutron source when combined with beryllium.

Atomic number (Z)

95

Standard atomic mass

243.0 u

Category

Actinide