Chapter 19, Problem 50AP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The number of ${}^{82}\text{Se}$ decay in a day needs to be estimated.

Concept Introduction: All radioactive reactions follow first-order kinetics. The relation between half-life time $t_{\text{1/2}}$ and decay constant for the first-order reaction is as follows:

  $t_{\text{1/2}}=\frac{0.6932}{k}$

Here, k is the rate constant.

The number of decays per unit time is the total activity of the radioactive sample. It is calculated in unit Becquerel (Bq).

The activity is calculated as follows:

  $A=\lambda N$

Here, $\lambda$ is decay constant and N is total number of nuclei present in the sample.