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Americium-241 being radioactive - emit alpha particles - is used as a source to ionization of air.
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What element is used in smoke detectors and named for the US?
AMERICIUM 241!
What synthetic element that is used in smoke detectors?
Americium (isotope 241) is the most common radioactive element used in smoke detectors.
Where is americium 241 most often found?
Americium is found in smoke detectors, neutron sources (Am-Be), water detectors, density gauges, source of alpha particles, source of gamma rays, americium gamma rays bombs, etc.
Why is Americium-241 used in smoke detectors?
Americium-241 is a radioactive isotope and used in smoke detectors to ionize the air (gives air molecules a charge). This allows a small current t flow between two contacts placed in the air chamber. When smoke particles enter the chamber, they attach themselves to the ionized molecules (by electrostatic attraction) effectively making them bigger and slowing the current. The detector then goes off when the current slows.
How did scientists find out to use americium 241 in smoke detectors?
A radioactive source was needed for ions to get trapped by the smoke particles and conduct less of an electric field. Several sources were tried before Americium was settled upon.
What does americium do in smoke detectors?
Yes, americium is used as ionizing source in smoke detectors.
What household item contains radioactive isotope americium 241?
smoke detectors
What is a radioactive element used is smoke detectors?
Americium 241
What element is used in smoke detectors and named for the US?
AMERICIUM 241!
Where is Americium commonly used?
Americium-241 is a radioactive isotope commonly found in smoke detectors.
A synthetic element that is used in smoke detectors is?
Americium-241 this is an emitter of alpha radiation, which is used in smoke detectors as it is very ionising and will not be able to travel through smoke. Therefore, in a fire the detector will not receive any alpha radiation and hence the alarm will go off.
What synthetic element that is used in smoke detectors?
Americium (isotope 241) is the most common radioactive element used in smoke detectors.
What the radioactive element is used in smoke detectors?
It's usually americium-241. It undergoes alpha-decay with a half-life of about 400 years. Am-241 is artificially manufactured; it doesn't occur in nature.
Many smoke detectors contain?
a. Americium-241 Smoke detectors might have an ionizing chamber. If it does, the chamber holds a radioactive nuclide to ionize the particles in the smoke to set off the detector. Usually the radioactive source is americium.
What is the most abundant radioactive isotope?
An isotope of cobalt is used to to kill cancer cells. The isotope americium-241 is used in smoke detectors.
Americium-241 is used in some smoke detectors It is an alpha emitter with a half-life of 432 How long will it take in years for 31.0 of an Am-241 sample to decay?
288
Is americium 241 hazardous?
If used inappropriately or carelessly, Americum-241 can be hazardous. It is a radioactive material that decays by emission of an alpha particle. Alpha particles are only dangerous if they are emitted by atoms within your body, so Americium-241 is only hazardous if it gets into your body. Americium-241 is used in ionization-type smoke detectors. In that use it is not hazardous unless the smoke detector is severely abused.
