Question

Strontium-90 is a radioisotope that will decrease in mass by one-half every 29 years. How many years will it take for a 10.0-gram sample of strontium-90 to decay to 5.00 grams?

Answer 1

Answer: It will take 29 years for a 10.0-gram sample of strontium-90 to decay to 5.00 grams

Explanation:

Radioactive decay process is a type of process in which a less stable nuclei decomposes to a stable nuclei by releasing some radiations or particles like alpha, beta particles or gamma-radiations. The radioactive decay follows first order kinetics.

Half life is the amount of time taken by a radioactive material to decay to half of its original value.

Half life is represented by $t_{\frac{1}{2}$

$t_{\frac{1}{2}=\frac{0.693}{\lambda}$

$\lambda$ = rate constant

Given : Strontium-90 decreases in mass  by one-half every 29 years , that is half life of Strontium-90  is 29 years.

As half life is independent of initial concentration, it will take 29 years for a 10.0-gram sample of strontium-90 to decay to 5.00 grams as the amount gets half.