Facts About Americium

(243)

Americium is most commonly seen as a silvery-white solid. The parenthesis around the atomic mass, of 243, means that it is the most stable form, with a half-life of 7,370 years. However, the only isotope of americium that can be produced in large amounts is one with an atomic mass of 241 and a half-life of 432 years. There are, in fact, 14 known isotopes of americium, each one with a slightly different mass. Americium is the only radioactive element that has super-conductive capabilities. It becomes a super-conductor at –272.36 ^oC.

Simplified Facts
Element Name	Americium
Element Symbol	Am
Atomic Number	95
Number of Neutrons	148
Atomic Mass (g/mol)	(243)
Electron Configuration	(Rn) 5f⁷ 7s²
Melting Point	994 ^oC
Boiling Point	2607 ^oC
Density	13.6 kg/m^-3

As for Isotopes.....
Isotope	Atomic mass	Half-life	Decay mode
²³⁷Am	237	1.22 hours	a, ec
²³⁸Am	238	1.63 hours	a, ec
²³⁹Am	239	11.9 hours	a, ec
²⁴⁰Am	240	2.12 days	a, ec
²⁴¹Am	241	432.2 years	a
²⁴²Am	242	16.02 hours	ß-, ec
^242mAm	242	141 years	a, it
²⁴³Am	243	7,370 years	a
²⁴⁴Am	244	10.1 hours	ß-
^244mAm	244	26 minutes	ß-
²⁴⁵Am	245	2.05 hours	ß-
²⁴⁶Am	246	39 minutes	ß-
^246mAm	246	25 minutes	ß-
²⁴⁷Am	247	3 minutes	ß-