What was the original use of the element Americium?

Answer 1

It might not seem obvious, but the "original use" of the element Americium was as a tool of scientific investigation. Americium is a synthetic element, so it was made in a nuclear reactor facility by exposing plutonium to the neutron flux in the operating core. It was produced in small quantities to investigate its nuclear, chemical and physical properties. That's what it was originally used for. You can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americium

Answer 2

Americium was originally used in smoke detectors due to its high radioactivity and long half-life, making it ideal for detecting smoke particles. It is still used in smoke detectors today.