Name: americium
Symbol: Am
Atomic number: 95
Atomic weight: [ 243 ]
Group in periodic table:
Group name: Actinoid
Period in periodic table: 7 (actinoid)
Block in periodic table: f-block
CAS registry ID: 7440-35-9
The lustre of freshly prepared americium metal is whiter and more silvery than plutonium or neptunium prepared in the same manner.
Americium appears to be more malleable than uranium or neptunium and americium tarnishes slowly in dry air at room temperature. Americium is a radioactive rare earth metal which must be handled with care to avoid contact, since it is a heavy a and g emitter. It is named after America. The a activity of 241Am is about three times that of radium. Americium is available to qualified users in the UK and in the USA.