Chapter 14, Problem 14.74QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The fraction of a radioactive sample that remains after the given time period has to be calculated.

Concept introduction:

Half-life: The time required for half of a reactant to be consumed in a reaction is said to be half-life.

• Half-life of a reaction is represented by the symbol as $t_{\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.}$
• Half-life is discovered by Ernest Rutherford's in 1907 from the original term half-life period.
• The half-life period is then shortened as half-life in early 1950s.

Fraction of a radioactive sample is determined by using half-life is as follows

${\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)}^n$

Where, n represents the number of half-lives of corresponding radioactive sample