Americium
Americio (Am, Z=95)
- Date
- 1944 · confidence high
- Place
- Metallurgical Laboratory, University of Chicago, United States
- Credited to
- Glenn Seaborg, Ralph James, Leon Morgan and Albert Ghiorso
- People
- 👤 Glenn T. Seaborg1912–1999
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
Identified in neutron-irradiated plutonium as part of the Manhattan Project; Seaborg announced it on a children's radio programme in 1945.
Named by analogy with europium.
What it led to
- Ionisation smoke detectors
- Am-Be neutron sources
- Confirmation of Seaborg's actinide concept
Built on
- Hanford reactors
- Actinide concept