Chapter 30, Problem 19Q

To determine

Will the isotope completely decayed after the two months if an isotope has a half-life of one month

Answer to Problem 19Q

Solution:

After two months the sample will not have completely decayed.

Explanation of Solution

Half-life of an isotope is one month. After one month half of the sample will remain. After two months half of the remaining isotope will decay i.e. three fourth of the sample will decay. It means one-fourth of the sample will remain. Each month half of the remaining atoms decay.