Isotopes+in+Smoke+Detectors

There are two common types of smoke detectors; photoelectric-type which detect smoke using an optical sensor and the ionization-type which used an ionizing chamber with radio active technology. Ionization type contain a small amount of 241Am//(Americum)// which is a radioactive isotope. The alarm sounds when the smoke enters the detector and the ions become attached to the smoke partices, which causes a decrease in the detector current.The alpha particles emitted by the decays of 241Am ionized air and generate a small current of electricity that is measured by a current-sensatie curcuit. The distance that alpha particles travel in the air is so short that there is no risk of being explosed to radiation. The smoke detectors are important because they warn people to get out of houses before they get stuck in a fire. They help save peoples lives. [] []