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Americium (Am)
Element with atomic number 95, category: Actinide, a solid at room temperature.
Element 95 of 118
Actinide
Americium
Group 9, Period 7 (actinide series)
Common Uses
Smoke detectors
Electron Diagram
About Americium
Americium is a chemical element with the symbol Am and atomic number 95, meaning every atom has 95 protons in its nucleus. It is classed as Actinide and is a solid at room temperature. Its atomic mass is about 243 atomic mass units (u).
On the periodic table, Americium sits in group 9, period 7 (actinide series), which determines how many electron shells it has and how it tends to react with other elements.
Uses of Americium
In daily life and industry, Americium is used for Smoke detectors. These uses are closely tied to the typical properties of elements in the Actinide category.
Electron Structure of Americium
Using a simplified electron shell model (at most 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, 18 in the third, and so on), Americium has 6 electron shells, with an approximate arrangement of 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 3 electrons from the innermost shell to the outermost. This is a simplified learning model, not the full electron configuration that accounts for the s, p, d and f subshells.
Explore Other Elements
Want to see another element or try the element symbol quiz? Go back to the Interactive Periodic Table to explore all 118 chemical elements.