5.2.4 Half-life (3)
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1.
A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 10 years. A scientist starts with 400g of the isotope. What mass of the isotope will remain after 30 years? Show your working.
Calculation:
- After 10 years (1 half-life), the mass remaining is 400g / 2 = 200g.
- After another 10 years (2 half-lives), the mass remaining is 200g / 2 = 100g.
- After a further 10 years (3 half-lives), the mass remaining is 100g / 2 = 50g.
Answer: After 30 years, 50g of the isotope will remain.
2.
A radioactive sample decays to a third of its original activity in 200 seconds. Assuming first-order decay, calculate the half-life of the radioactive substance.
Solution:
- The relationship between activity and time is given by: A(t) = A0e-kt, where A0 is the initial activity, k is the decay constant, and t is time.
- We are given that A(200) = A0/3 and t = 200 s. Substituting these values: A0/3 = A0e-200k
- Divide both sides by A0: 1/3 = e-200k
- Take the natural logarithm of both sides: ln(1/3) = -200k => -1.099 = -200k
- Solve for k: k = -1.099 / -200 = 0.005495 s-1
- The half-life (T1/2) is given by: T1/2 = ln(2) / k
- Substitute the value of k: T1/2 = 0.693 / 0.005495 = 126 s
- Therefore, the half-life of the radioactive substance is 126 seconds.
3.
The decay of a radioactive isotope follows first-order kinetics. A sample of isotope X initially contains 1.6 x 107 atoms. After 100 seconds, the number of atoms remaining is 4.0 x 106. Calculate the half-life of isotope X.
Solution:
- The number of atoms remaining after time t is given by the equation: N(t) = N0e-kt, where N0 is the initial number of atoms, k is the decay constant, and t is time.
- We are given N0 = 1.6 x 107 and N(100) = 4.0 x 106, and t = 100 s. Substituting these values into the equation: 4.0 x 106 = 1.6 x 107e-100k
- Divide both sides by 1.6 x 107: (4.0 x 106) / (1.6 x 107) = e-100k => 0.25 = e-100k
- Take the natural logarithm of both sides: ln(0.25) = -100k => -1.386 = -100k
- Solve for k: k = -1.386 / -100 = 0.01386 s-1
- The half-life (T1/2) is given by the equation: T1/2 = ln(2) / k
- Substitute the value of k: T1/2 = 0.693 / 0.01386 = 49.5 s
- Therefore, the half-life of isotope X is approximately 49.5 seconds.