The radionuclide 32P (T1/2 = 14.28 d) is often used as a tracer to follow the course of biochemical reactions involving phosphorus. (a) If the counting rate in a particular experimental setup is initially 3050 counts/s, how much time will the rate take to fall to 170 counts/s? (b) A solution containing 32P is fed to the root system of an experimental tomato plant, and the 32P activity in a leaf is measured 3.48 days later. By what factor must this reading be multiplied to correct for the decay that has occurred since the experiment began?
Radioactive decay
The emission of energy to produce ionizing radiation is known as radioactive decay. Alpha, beta particles, and gamma rays are examples of ionizing radiation that could be released. Radioactive decay happens in radionuclides, which are imbalanced atoms. This periodic table's elements come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Several of these kinds are stable like nitrogen-14, hydrogen-2, and potassium-40, whereas others are not like uranium-238. In nature, one of the most stable phases of an element is usually the most prevalent. Every element, meanwhile, has an unstable state. Unstable variants are radioactive and release ionizing radiation. Certain elements, including uranium, have no stable forms and are constantly radioactive. Radionuclides are elements that release ionizing radiation.
Artificial Radioactivity
The radioactivity can be simply referred to as particle emission from nuclei due to the nuclear instability. There are different types of radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Along with these there are different types of decay as well.
The radionuclide 32P (T1/2 = 14.28 d) is often used as a tracer to
follow the course of biochemical reactions involving phosphorus. (a)
If the counting rate in a particular experimental setup is initially
3050 counts/s, how much time will the rate take to fall to 170
counts/s? (b) A solution containing 32P is fed to the root system of an
experimental tomato plant, and the 32P activity in a leaf is measured
3.48 days later. By what factor must this reading be multiplied to correct
for the decay that has occurred since the experiment began?
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