Question

If this decay has a half life of 2.60 years, what mass of 72.5 g of sodium 22 will remain after 15.6 years

Answer 1

Sodium-22 remain : 1.13 g

Further explanation

The atomic nucleus can experience decay into 2 particles or more due to the instability of its atomic nucleus.  

Usually, radioactive elements have an unstable atomic nucleus.  

General formulas used in decay:  

$\large{\boxed{\bold{N_t=N_0(\dfrac{1}{2})^{T/t\frac{1}{2} }}}$

T = duration of decay  

t 1/2 = half-life  

N₀ = the number of initial radioactive atoms  

Nt = the number of radioactive atoms left after decaying during T time  

half-life = t 1/2=2.6 years

T=15.6 years

No=72.5 g

$\tt Nt=72.5.\dfrac{1}{2}^{15.6/2.6}\\\\Nt=72.5.\dfrac{1}{2}^6\\\\Nt=1.13~g$