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

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

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.