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The first smoke detectors are based on optical principles - photoelectric detectors.

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Q: What was used in fire detectors before americium?
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What does americium do in smoke detectors?

Yes, americium is used as ionizing source 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.


What is used for americium?

Some applications of americium are: - ionizing source for smoke detectors - component of neutron generators as Am-Be - source in nuclear gauges densitometers - standard source of radiations: gamma, alpha - source for gamma ray radiography - precursor to prepare Cm, Bk, Es, Db,No, Lw - laboratories uses


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.


What are the different meanings of both AM and am and Am?

am or AM= Time of day, before noonam = Attometre, a unit of length (equal to 10−18 m)radio-AM : amplitude modulation, the technique used for AM radio broadcastingAm = chemical element, symbol for Americium, atomic number 95 (from Wikipedia: >>Americium is a synthetic element that has the symbol Am and atomic number 95.A radioactive metallic element, americium is an actinide. Discovered in Chicago,1944 it was named for the Americas, by analogy with europium (63).Americium is widely used in commercial ionization chamber smoke detectors, as well as in neutron sources and industrial gauges.

Related questions

What is the element americium used in?

One use is in smoke detectors to warn of fire.


How long has americium been used in smoke detectors?

Americium become to be largely used in smoke detectors after 1970.


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 does americium do in smoke detectors?

Yes, americium is used as ionizing source in smoke detectors.


Was there americium in the first smoke dectores?

Alpha particles from americium ionized the air. An air with smoke has a different ionization, ionization currents which are also different are measured, compared and the detector (which was before calibrated) is ready ! The americium smoke detectors (with ionization) are not the first smoke detectors.


Where is Americium commonly used?

Americium-241 is a radioactive isotope commonly found in smoke detectors.


What is a radioactive element used is smoke detectors?

Americium 241


What was the element americium named after and where is it commonly used?

The name americium is derived from the name of the continent America. It is commonly used in smoke detectors.


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.


How is americium 241 used in smoke detectors?

Americium-241 being radioactive - emit alpha particles - is used as a source to ionization of air.


How is Americium used in are daily life?

americinium is used in smoke detectors to check for smoke