0
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Ross
Coach
Blake
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What was used in fire detectors before americium?
The first smoke detectors are based on optical principles - photoelectric detectors.
What is americium's normal phase?
Americium's normal phase is solid at room temperature. It is a silvery-white metal that is radioactive and is commonly used in smoke detectors.
What does americium do in smoke detectors?
Americium-241 is used in smoke detectors because it emits alpha particles that ionize the air inside the detector. This ionization process allows a small electric current to flow between two electrodes in the detector. When smoke enters the detector, it disrupts this current, triggering the alarm.
What was the original use of the element Americium?
It might not seem obvious, but the "original use" of the element Americium was as a tool of scientific investigation. Americium is a synthetic element, so it was made in a nuclear reactor facility by exposing plutonium to the neutron flux in the operating core. It was produced in small quantities to investigate its nuclear, chemical and physical properties. That's what it was originally used for. You can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americium
What was the element used as a target substance in the experiments by Irene Joliot curie?
The element used as a target substance in Irene Joliot-Curie's experiments was beryllium.
