Question

There are several technological applications for the transuranium elements (Z > 92). An important one is in smoke detectors, which can use the decay of a tiny amount of americium-241 to neptunium-237.What subatomic particle is emitted from that decay process? Write a balanced nuclear equation for this process.

Answer 1

An alpha particle is emitted.

95241Am → 42α + 23793Np

Step-by-step explanation:

If we look at the difference between the atomic masses of the Americium isotope and neptunium isotope, we see a difference of 4 I e 241 - 237 = 4

Also,if we look at the difference between the atomic numbers of both nuclei, we get a difference of 2 I.e 95 - 93 = 2

Both differences show the exact properties of an alpha decay.