Half-life is the time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive element to decay. The function M (t) = P (1/2) ^t/h can be used to calculate the mass remaining if the half-life is h and the initial mass is P. The half-life of radium is 1620 years.

a) How many years will it take until the laboratory has only 4 g of radium?

Question

Chemistry

Cameron Boyd

31 March, 00:46

Half-life is the time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive element to decay. The function M (t) = P (1/2) ^t/h can be used to calculate the mass remaining if the half-life is h and the initial mass is P. The half-life of radium is 1620 years.

a) How many years will it take until the laboratory has only 4 g of radium?

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Answers (1)

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Luciana Mcdaniel · Answer 1

We must know the initial amount to calculate the time taken, but the equation will be set up as so:

4/P = (1/2) ^ (t / 1620)

We would try to simplify 4/P to (1/2) ˣ and then x would be equated to t/1620.