Chapter 10, Problem 49P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The half-life of the radioactive element needs to be determined, if it get decreased from 2.4 g to 0.30 g in 142days.

Concept Introduction:

Half-life − It is the time required by original radioactive element to reduce to the half of its initial concentration. Thus, at half-life ( $t_{1/2}$ )

  $\text{Concentration of reactant}=\frac{\text{ Initial concentration}}{\text{2}}$

The decay of the radioactive element can be described by the following formula-

  $N(t)=N_0{(\frac{1}{2})}^{\frac{t}{t_{1/2}}}$

Where

N(t) − Amount of reactant at time t

N₀ − Initial concentration of the reactant

t_1/2 − Half-life of the decaying reactant