Americium-241 is a synthetic radioactive isotope of americium, a chemical element in the actinide series. It was first produced in 1944 and has a half-life of about 432 years. This means it takes that long for half of a sample to decay. Americium-241 is primarily used in smoke detectors and as a source of radiation in various scientific applications. In addition to its use in smoke detectors, americium-241 is also utilized in nuclear batteries and as a tracer in medical imaging. Its radioactive properties allow it to emit alpha particles, which can be harnessed for these practical applications. Safety measures are essential when handling this isotope due to its radioactive nature.