Question

How much of a sample remains after five half-lives have occurred?

Answer 1

It's exponential, every half life will multiply the amount by 1/2. After the first one, 1/2 After the second, 1/4, then 1/8, 1/16, and finally after the fifth will be 1/32.

Answer 2

Answer:
`{frac{1}{32}`

Explanation:

Half life is the time taken to reduce the original concentration of the reactants to half.

Now, the number of half lives is related to the amount left after decomposition by the formula:

`a=(a_o)/(2^n)`

where,

a = amount of reactant left after n-half lives = ?

`a_o` = Initial amount of the reactant

n = number of half lives = 5

Putting values in above equation, we get:

`a=(a_0)/(2^5)`

`a=(a_0)/(32)`

Thus the amount of sample that remains after 5 half lives is
`(1)/(32)` of original amount.