Chapter 18, Problem 55CE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Fraction of original sample remains after 100 hours has to be determined. Also, whether original sample of potassium-42 can be held for 200 hours to save at least $1\text{ μg}$ content or not has to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Half-life $\left(t_{1/2}\right)$ represents time when concentration of the reactant is reduced to half of the initial concentration.

Expression to calculate half-life for radioactive decay is as follows:

  $t_{1/2}=\frac{0.693}{\text{λ}}$

Here,

$\text{λ}$ is rate constant.

$t_{1/2}$ is half-life.