The fourth transuranium element discovered, it was first produced in 1944 from plutonium-239 in a nuclear reactor. The isotope americium-241 has been prepared in kilogram quantities and is used in a variety of measuring applications that utilize its gamma radiation. Its most familiar use is in household smoke detectors
A radioactive metallic element produced by the radioactive decay of certain plutonium isotopes after bombardment of uranium, neptunium, and/or plutonium with high-energy neutrons
A fissionable, artificial element that can be used to produce nuclear explosives The principal isotope, americium 241, is created as a result of the decay of plutonium 241 Other important isotopes are americium 242 and 243