Question

Iodine-131, a beta emitter, has a half-life of 8 days. a 8-gram sample of initially pure iodine-131 is stored for 32 days. how much iodine-131 remains in the sample afterward?

Answer 1

The answer is a 1/2 gram or 0.5 grams. After 8 days, there will be 4 grams. After 16 days, there will be 2 grams. After 24 days, there will be 1 gram. And after 32 days, there will be a 1/2 gram or 0.5 grams. The formula is
(1/2)^n = fraction remaining
where n is the number of half-lives.
In this case, n=4, since 32/8=4.
The formula gives us
(1/2)^4=1/16
1/16 of 8 grams (the starting amount) is 1/2 gram or 0.5 grams