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? Please explain your answer.

Answer 1

Answer: alpha particle

`^(241)_(95)\textrm{Am}\rightarrow ^(237)_(93)\textrm{Np}+^(4)_(2)\textrm{He}`

Step-by-step explanation:

Radioactive decay process is a type of process in which a less stable nuclei decomposes to a stable nuclei by releasing some radiations or particles like alpha, beta particles or gamma-radiations.

In a nuclear reaction, the total mass and total atomic number remains the same.

Alpha decay : When a larger nuclei decays into smaller nuclei by releasing alpha particle. In this process, the mass number and atomic number is reduced by 4 and 2 units respectively.

General representation of an element is given as:
`_Z^A\textrm{X}`

where,

Z represents Atomic number

A represents Mass number

X represents the symbol of an element

General representation of alpha decay :

`_Z^A\textrm{X}\rightarrow _(Z-2)^(A-4)Y+_2^4\alpha`

For the given reaction:

`^(241)_(95)\textrm{Am}\rightarrow ^(237)_(93)\textrm{Np}+^(4)_(2)\textrm{He}`

Thus a alpha particle is emitted on decay of a tiny amount of americium-241 to neptunium-237.