What is the half-life of Americium 241?

The half-life of Americium-241 is indeed around 432 years. This characteristic is a significant factor in understanding the stability and decay of this isotopic element. The half-life refers to the time it takes for half of a given amount of a radioactive substance to decay into another element or isotope.

Americium-241 is used in various applications, including smoke detectors and certain types of nuclear gauges, due to its relatively long half-life, which allows it to remain useful for extended periods. The long half-life indicates that Americium-241 decays slowly, making it a stable source of radiation for its intended purposes.

In contrast to the other choices, the values of 32 years, 207 years, and 500 years do not accurately represent the half-life of Americium-241. This discrepancy helps further clarify the unique properties of Americium-241 as a useful isotope in radiation applications.