Americium. Close-up view of the active part of a domestic smoke detector. At the centre of this is a piece of americium dioxide (AmO2). Americium is a
Americium. Close-up view of the active part of a domestic smoke detector. At the centre of this is a piece of americium dioxide (AmO2). Americium is a radioactive transuranic metal of the actinide group. Americium-241 is used in smoke detectors as is decays with alpha radiation and has a half-life of over 400 years. The radiation it produces passes through an ionisation chamber where it enables a constant current to pass. If any smoke particles enter the chamber, the current is interrupted and the alarm triggered.
Size: 4500px × 4500px
Photo credit: © Science Photo Library / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -, 241am, actinide, alpha, americium, americium-241, artificial, background, black, chemical, chemistry, close-, component, cut, cut-, cutout, decay, detector, dioxide, education, element, emitter, ionisation, ionising, macro, metal, particle, physics, radiation, radioactive, school, science, shot, smoke, studio, transuranic
