Americium-241, a radioisotope used in smokedetectors, is produced by bombarding

Question

Americium-241, a radioisotope used in smokedetectors, is produced by bombarding plutonium-238 with neutrons toproduce plutonium-240, which is bombarded with neutrons to produceplutonium-241. Write the balanced nuclear equations for eachreaction. PLEASE HELP. (:

Explanation / Answer

Nuclear reactions:                                      238Pu94 +2 0n1-----------> 240Pu94                                                                      240Pu94 + 0n1-----------> 244Am94     In the first bombardment two neutrons hitsplutonium-238 to form plutonium - 240. When this plutonium -240 is bombarded by another neutron Americium is produced. Ithink mistakenly it is written as plutonium - 241instead of Am -241. Hope now you understand the problem. If you need furtherinformation please let me know.

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