How to Extract Americium

At some point in your life, you've most likely seen a Periodic Table of Elements.

This table shows the basic building blocks of every material, anywhere in the Universe. 

Now, near the end of the Table are lots of Radioactive Elements with names after either a scientist or the location of their discovery. This, starting after Plutonium, are the synthetic elements. If you are like me, you probably assume that since they are all synthetic elements (not found in nature) they are extremely unstable and not actually tangible. And this is true, for things like Ununoctium, number 118. But you would be surprised how some of these elements are actually used.

Did you know that you have a chunk of one of these elements in your house, right now? Well, you probably do. It's called Americium.

Named after the country is was discovered in (The United States of America), Americium is a radioactive element that is found in your house. Yes, that's right. In your house. 

Want to find out if you have a secret stash of radioactive metal sitting in your hallway?

Find your smoke alarm. You are required to have one in most countries... so just look, it's there.

Pull it off the wall if you can. Flip it over. If you have an Ion Smoke Alarm, there will be a warning on the back. Seems normal, right? Especially (if like me) you live in California and every little thing has a cancer warning on it for traces of lead or something.

Take a look at the corner. 

That's the same Nuclear Hazard Symbol on Atomic Bombs and Nuclear Power plants. If you've got that on your smoke detector, congratulations, you have an extract able supply of Americium.

Want to get it out? Great!

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage caused during or after this project. 

First off, get a new smoke alarm. You need another one for your own protection. Smoke Alarms save lives, trust me. Or, if you don't have an Ion Alarm, just get one. They aren't expensive. 

Confirm it has the Radiation Symbol on the back. It does? Great.

Take that screw driver that you have probably used in almost every MakeTech project and pry open that smoke alarm. Keep removing parts until you see the large canister with that same radiation symbol etched into the metal. 

Remove the top and continue to remove all the plastic and metal you find. Eventually, you will find a flat metal sheet. In the center is a disk. On that is a small, short cylinder with a star pattern on it. This should be about half the size of a US Penny or Eurozone Eurocent. Wonder what it looks like? Scroll up to the Americium Element block. The disk under it is a picture of the disk you have.

If you want confirmation, grab a Geiger counter (OK, not many people carry one of these around, but they aren't expensive and are useful). Hold it up to the tiny disk. Get a reading? Great. But you aren't finished yet.

Look into the center of the star. Use a magnifying glass if you need to. In the center of the star is a tiny, tiny black disk. THAT right there, that is the Americium. Congratulations, you have successfully extracted a rare, radioactive element from an everyday household device. I bet you are the only person on your street to have one.

Quick Nuclear Physics lesson. Radiation comes in 3 forms: Alpha Particles, Beta Particles, and Gamma Rays.

Alpha Particles are the most damaging of the trio but also the most pathetic. They can't even penetrate skin. The only problems you are ever going to have with these is ingesting it.

Beta Particles are more penetrating than Alpha Particles but slightly less damaging.

Gamma Rays are the least damaging but are also by far the worst. These things will penetrate most anything, unless you have a foot of lead or steel between you and the Gamma Rays.

Luckily for you, Americium only emits Alpha Particles. Unless you eat it... which I hope you don't... it is harmless. After all, it's in smoke alarms. Anyways, the Americium will never harm you as it cannot break your skin, but just to be safe, store it in a bottle or container. It really won't penetrate that. 

Despite having the coolest element on the block, it's useless. Sorry. There's nothing to do with this thing after you have it. But isn't that what a lot of things in life are?

Well, perhaps I spoke too soon. Americium can be used as a Neutron Generator or a Random number generator, but both are probably hard and/or impossible for you to make.

And the big question: Is this legal?

Well, in the United States, there is no specific law banning Americium. Sorry, I can't speak for any other countries, but a little research I did shows me that possessing Americium in Australia is illegal. Sorry.

One last note: Americium, being radioactive, degrades. It has a half life of over 400 years, though. It degrades into Neptunium. So, if you want to pass it on as a family heirloom, you will have a block of mostly Neptunium in a couple centuries.

Enjoy your Americium!

Questions? Use the comment function!