Americium
Actinide · atomic number 95
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AmAmericium
Americium is a radioactive transuranic chemical element with symbol Am and atomic number 95. This member of the actinide series is located in the periodic table under the lanthanide element europium, and thus by analogy was named after the Americas. Americium was first produced in 1944 by the group of Glenn T.Seaborg from Berkeley, California, at the metallurgical laboratory of University of Chicago.
Properties of Americium
| Element category | Actinide |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 95 |
| Atomic mass | 243 u |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Group | 3 |
| Period | 7 |
| Block | f |
| Electron configuration | [Rn] 5f7 7s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 25, 8, 2 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.13 |
| Melting point | 1449 K (1176 °C) |
| Boiling point | 2880 K (2607 °C) |
| Density | 12 g/cm3 |
| Discovered by | Glenn T. Seaborg |
← Plutonium · Periodic table · Curium → Cm
About the actinide group
Mostly radioactive, heavy metals — several made only in reactors — whose fission powers nuclear energy and weapons.
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