Element 95

Americium (Am)

Actinide · Period 7 · f-block

Americium (Am) is element 95 of the periodic table, a actinide in period 7 (f-block) with an atomic mass of 243 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
95
Symbol
Am
Atomic mass
243 u
Category
Actinides
Period
7
Block
f-block
Phase at STP
solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p6 5f7 7s2
Shorthand configuration
[Rn] 5f7 7s2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 25, 8, 2
Oxidation states
+2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7

Physical properties

Melting point
1449 K
Boiling point
2880 K
Density
13.69 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
1.3
Atomic radius
173 pm
Covalent radius
180 pm
First ionization energy
578 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
10 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Am-243243.06138Half-life 7370 years

Common uses

  • Smoke detectors
  • Neutron sources
  • Space missions

Discovery

Year
1944
Discovered by
Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, Leon O. Morgan, Albert Ghiorso
Country
USA

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