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A 1-kg block of phosphorus-32, which has a half life of 14.3 days is stored for 100.1 days. At the end of this period, how much phosphorus-32 remains?

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User MarcM
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1 Answer

4 votes

The half-life of phosphorus-32 is 14.3 days, which means that after each 14.3-day period, the amount of phosphorus-32 remaining will be reduced by half. We can use the following equation to calculate the amount of phosphorus-32 remaining after a certain number of half-lives:

N = N0 * (1/2)^(t/t1/2)

where:

N = the amount of radioactive material remaining

N0 = the initial amount of radioactive material

t = the time elapsed

t1/2 = the half-life of the radioactive material

In this case, we know that:

N0 = 1 kg (the initial amount)

t1/2 = 14.3 days (the half-life)

t = 100.1 days (time elapsed)

Plugging these values into the equation, we get:

N = 1 kg * (1/2)^(100.1/14.3)

Simplifying this expression yields:

N = 1 kg * 0.0684

Thus, the amount of phosphorus-32 remaining after 100.1 days is:

N = 0.0684 kg

Therefore, at the end of the 100.1-day period, approximately 68.4 grams of phosphorus-32 remains.

answered
User Darkstarone
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