americium

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americium (symbol Am) Radioactive metallic element of the actinide series, first made (1944) by US nuclear chemist Glenn Seaborg (1912–99) and others by neutron bombardment of plutonium. It is used in smoke detectors, and Am241 is a source of gamma rays. Properties: at.no. 95; r.a.m. 243.13; r.d. 13.67; m.p. 995°C (1821°F); b.p. unknown; most stable isotope Am243 (half-life 7650 yr).

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