Chapter 20, Problem 62E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason as to why half-life is used for measuring the rate of decay instead of the time required for the complete decay of a radioactive isotope is to be predicted.

Concept introduction:

Half-life is defined as the time required for the number of nuclides to reach half of the original value. The remaining mass of a sample is calculated by the formula shown below.

$\text{R}=\text{S}\times {\left(\text{1}/\text{2}\right)}^{\text{n}}$

Where,

• $\text{n}$ is the number of half-lives.

• $\text{R}$ is the remaining amount of a sample after $\text{n}$ half-lives.

• $\text{S}$ is the initial amount of a sample.