Home smoke detectors often contain the radioactive element Americium-241 which emits α particles with energies of about 5.4 MeV, which are stopped by a piece of paper or a few centimeters of air and cannot penetrate the human epidermis. a) Write the alpha decay formula that shows what Am-241 decays into. b) How many protons does Am-241 have and how do you know? c) How many neutrons does Am-241 have and how do you know? d) How many electrons does an electrically neutral atom of Am-241 have?

Home smoke detectors often contain the radioactive element Americium-241 which emits α particles with energies of about 5.4 MeV, which are stopped by a piece of paper or a few centimeters of air and cannot penetrate the human epidermis. a) Write the alpha decay formula that shows what Am-241 decays into. b) How many protons does Am-241 have and how do you know? c) How many neutrons does Am-241 have and how do you know? d) How many electrons does an electrically neutral atom of Am-241 have?