What are the daughter particles of americium-241?
The radiation from the decay of americium-241 and its daughters is in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. Alpha particles can travel only short distances and generally will not penetrate the outer layer of human skin.
Where was americium first discovered?
Glenn T. Seaborg
Albert GhiorsoRalph A. James
Americium/Discoverers
Americium was first produced in 1944 by the group of Glenn T. Seaborg from Berkeley, California, at the Metallurgical Laboratory of the University of Chicago, as part of the Manhattan Project. Although it is the third element in the transuranic series, it was discovered fourth, after the heavier curium.
What is the use of americium-241?
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.
What does americium-241 emit when it decays?
The isotope of americium used in smoke detectors is americium-241, which decays by α emission to neptunium-237 with a half-life of 432.2 years.
What isotope is used in smoke detectors?
americium-241
Ionization smoke detectors use a small amount of radioactive material, americium-241, to detect smoke.
Is Am-241 a gamma emitter?
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.
Can you touch americium?
Since alpha particles do not penetrate the skin and the gamma rays released from americium sources are relatively low in energy, external exposure to americium is not usually considered to be a danger to your health.
What are 3 uses of americium?
Americium-241 has been used industrially in fluid-density gauges, thickness gauges, aircraft fuel gauges, and distance-sensing devices, all of which use its gamma radiation. The isotope’s alpha-particle emission is exploited in smoke detectors.
Where is Am-241 found?
Americium Sources Exposure to any significant amount of Am-241 is unlikely under normal circumstances. Small amounts of it are found in the soil, plants and water from nuclear weapons testing. Some smoke detectors contain very small amounts of Am-241.
Why is americium-241 used in smoke detectors?
Ionization smoke detectors use americium as a source of alpha particles. Alpha particles from the americium source ionize air molecules. This makes some particles positively charged and some negatively charged.
What type of radiation does americium-241 emit?
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.
Why is alpha used in smoke detectors?
An isotope of americium which emits alpha particles is used in smoke alarms. Alpha radiation ionises the air and this allows a small current to flow between two electrodes. Alpha is weakly penetrating so smoke stops it, the current drops and the alarm goes off.
Was ist ein Periodensystem?
Dieses Periodensystem gibt einen Überblick über die Entdecker bzw. Erzeuger der einzelnen Elemente durch Anklicken der Elementenkennung. Für die Elemente, für die kein Entdecker/Erzeuger bekannt ist, wird der aktuelle historische Wissensstand unter dem Übersichtsplan kurz wiedergegeben.
Was bedeutet die braune Farbe der Periode?
Braune Farbe der Periode. Eine braune Farbe der Periode tritt in den meisten Fällen zu Beginn und am Ende der Periode auf und hat nichts weiter Schlimmes zu bedeuten. Der bräunliche Farbton hat etwas damit zu tun, dass das Blut in dieser Zeit langsamer fließt und sich mit dem Sauerstoff verbindet und somit oxidiert.
Was passiert mit dem Blut am Ende der Periode?
So verhält es sich auch am Ende der Periode oder nachts. Das Blut ist dann braun, da es langsamer fließt. Die dunkelrote Farbe entsteht, weil das Blut kurz vor dem Abklingen ebenfalls bereits langsamer fließt und dickflüssiger wird.
Was tun wenn sich die Periodenblutung verändert?
Das Allerwichtigste zuerst: Wenn sich deine Periodenblutung verändert und ganz plötzlich anders ist als sonst, solltest du auf jeden Fall zum Arzt gehen. Generell ist es wichtig, dass du alle 6 Monate zu deinem Frauenarzt oder deiner Frauenärztin gehst und dich gründlich checken lässt.