Question

A freshly prepared sample of radioactive isotope has an activity of 10 mCi. After 4 hours, its activity is 8 mCi. Find: (a) the decay constant  and half-life T1/2; (b) How many atoms of the isotope were contained in the freshly prepared sample? (c) What is the sample's activity 30 hours after it is prepared?

Answer 1

Answer:

(a). The decay constant is $1.55\times10^{-5}\ s^{-1}$

The half life is 11.3 hr.

(b). The value of N₀ is $2.38\times10^{11}\ nuclei$

(c). The sample's activity is 1.87 mCi.

Explanation:

Given that,

Activity $R_{0}=10\ mCi$

Time $t_{1}=4\ hours$

Activity R= 8 mCi

(a). We need to calculate the decay constant

Using formula of activity

$R=R_{0}e^{-\lambda t}$

$\lambda=\dfrac{1}{t}ln(\dfrac{R_{0}}{R})$

Put the value into the formula

$\lambda=\dfrac{1}{4\times3600}ln(\dfrac{10}{8})$

$\lambda=0.0000154\ s^{-1}$

$\lambda=1.55\times10^{-5}\ s^{-1}$

We need to calculate the half life

Using formula of half life

$T_{\dfrac{1}{2}}=\dfrac{ln(2)}{\lambda}$

Put the value into the formula

$T_{\dfrac{1}{2}}=\dfrac{ln(2)}{1.55\times10^{-5}}$

$T_{\dfrac{1}{2}}=44.719\times10^{3}\ s$

$T_{\dfrac{1}{2}}=11.3\ hr$

(b). We need to calculate the value of N₀

Using formula of $N_{0}$

$N_{0}=\dfrac{3.70\times10^{6}}{\lambda}$

Put the value into the formula

$N_{0}=\dfrac{3.70\times10^{6}}{1.55\times10^{-5}}$

$N_{0}=2.38\times10^{11}\ nuclei$

(c). We need to calculate the sample's activity

Using formula of activity

$R=R_{0}e^{-\lambda\times t}$

Put the value intyo the formula

$R=10e^{-(1.55\times10^{-5}\times30\times3600)}$

$R=1.87\ mCi$

Hence, (a). The decay constant is $1.55\times10^{-5}\ s^{-1}$

The half life is 11.3 hr.

(b). The value of N₀ is $2.38\times10^{11}\ nuclei$

(c). The sample's activity is 1.87 mCi.