Sciencemadness Discussion Board

How much Americium-241 contains in a fire detector?

Psychopatic - 9-8-2004 at 08:50

I'm collecting old fire-detektors :D

But I'm wondering how much Americium each detector contains? I borrowed a geiger-counter and the activity was about 40 kBq om each detector, when I have picked out the radioactive source. But I still doesn't know how much of the radioactive piece that is pure Americium. Anyone who knows?

mrcfitzgerald - 9-8-2004 at 09:47

A smoke detector contains 0.26 micrograms of americium-241. Source: Carey Sublettes' Nuclear FAQ

Psychopatic - 9-8-2004 at 10:48

Thanks!

That wasn't much! But I expected it was a very, very small amount.