Scientists believe that Earth once had 9 9 trillion tons of a naturally existing plutonium isotope (back when the Earth was formed). Given a half-life of 26 comma 000 26,000 years for that specific plutonium isotope and the Earth's current age of 4.6 4.6 billion years, how much would remain today? Use your answer to explain why this isotope is not found naturally on Earth today. The remaining amount after 4.6 4.6 billion years will be nothing ton(s). (Round to three decimal places as needed.) Explain why this isotope is not found naturally on Earth today. A. The age of the Earth is more than 276 comma 923 276,923 half-lives, so the amount of this isotope remaining today is negligible. B. The age of the Earth is more than twice the half-life of the isotope. All decaying elements reduce to zero after two half-lives. C. The age of the Earth is approximately 176 comma 923 176,923 half-lives, so the amount of this isotope remaining today is negligible. D. The age of the Earth is more than ten times the half-life of the isotope. All decaying elements reduce to zero after ten half-lives.
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Scientists believe that Earth once had
9
9 trillion tons of a naturally existing plutonium isotope (back when the Earth was formed). Given a half-life of
26 comma 000
26,000 years for that specific plutonium isotope and the Earth's current age of
4.6
4.6 billion years, how much would remain today? Use your answer to explain why this isotope is not found naturally on Earth today.
The remaining amount after
4.6
4.6 billion years will be
nothing
ton(s).
(Round to three decimal places as needed.)
Explain why this isotope is not found naturally on Earth today.
A.
The age of the Earth is more than
276 comma 923
276,923 half-lives, so the amount of this isotope remaining today is negligible.
B.
The age of the Earth is more than twice the half-life of the isotope. All decaying elements reduce to zero after two half-lives.
C.
The age of the Earth is approximately
176 comma 923
176,923 half-lives, so the amount of this isotope remaining today is negligible.
D.
The age of the Earth is more than ten times the half-life of the isotope. All decaying elements reduce to zero after ten half-lives.
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