Chapter 25, Problem 57IL

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The half-life of polonium-210 has to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Radiocarbon dating: The dynamic equilibrium exists in all living organism by exhaling or inhaling, maintain the same ratio of ${}^{12}\text{C}$ and ${}^{14}\text{C}$ that takes in. when the living organism dies, the intake of ${}^{14}\text{C}$ stops and it’s the ratio no longer exhibits equilibrium; undergoes radioactive decay.

Half-life period: The time required to reduce to half of its initial value.

Formula used to calculate half-life:

$\begin{array}{l}{\text{t}}_{\text{1/2}}\text{=}\frac{\text{0}\text{.693}}{\text{k}}\\ \text{where,}\text{k}\text{is rate constant}\text{.}\\ \left(\text{or}\right)\\ {\text{ln[N]}}_{\text{t}}{\text{- ln[N]}}_0\text{= -kt}\end{array}$