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

This looks like Alpha decay:

a He atom is emitted: 4/2He

Balance equation is as followed:

241/95Am ----> 237/93Np + 4/2He

Answer 2

**241/95Am ----> 237/93Np + 4/2He

Is the correct answer indeed. I was confused about the part where it was just talking about subatomic particles and thought I wasn't adding an element to balance the equation but neutrons. Thank you!

Answer 3

45