What is americium-241 used for?
What is americium-241 used for?
Americium-241 is used as a neutron source in non-destructive testing of machinery and equipment, and as a thickness gauge in the glass industry. However, its most common application is as an ionization source in smoke detectors, and most of the several kilograms of americium made each year are used in this way.
How bad is americium-241?
Hazards. Americium-241 has the same general hazards as other americium isotopes: it is both extremely toxic and radioactive. Although α-particles can be stopped by a sheet of paper, there are serious health concerns for ingestion of α-emitters.
Why is americium-241 radioactive?
Americium-241 is formed in the environment by the decay of plutonium contamination from nuclear weapons production and testing. Americium-241 is an unstable isotope. As americium decays, it releases radiation and forms “daughter” elements.
What is element 95 named after?
Americium
Density (near r.t. ) Americium is a synthetic radioactive chemical element with the symbol Am and atomic number 95. It is a transuranic member of the actinide series, in the periodic table located under the lanthanide element europium, and thus by analogy was named after the Americas.
What kind of radioactive metal is americium-241?
Radionuclide Basics: Americium-241. Americium (chemical symbol Am) is a man-made radioactive metal that is solid under normal conditions. Americium is produced when plutonium absorbs neutrons in nuclear reactors or during nuclear weapons tests.
What are the health risks of americium-241?
Americium and Health Am-241 is primarily an alpha emitter, but also emits some gamma rays. It poses a more significant risk if ingested (swallowed) or inhaled. Once in the body, it tends to concentrate in the bone, liver, and muscle.
How does americium 241 decay in a light water reactor?
In a light water reactor (LWR), 79% of neutron captures on 241 Am convert to 242 Am and 10% to its nuclear isomer 242m Am: Americium-241 decays mainly via alpha decay, with a weak gamma ray byproduct. The α-decay is shown as follows:
Where does americium come from in a smoke detector?
When the smoke detector is new, it is close to 100% americium. After 30 years, about 4.7% of the americium atoms will have decayed to neptunium. Americium-241 is made in nuclear reactors by irradiating plutonium-239 with neutrons. [4]