157k views
2 votes
A sample of radium-226 will decay to ¼ of its original amount after 3200 years. What is the half-life of radium-226?

User Omikron
by
9.3k points

2 Answers

4 votes

Answer:

1600 YEARS

Step-by-step explanation:

DID IT ON EDGE.

User RomanOks
by
8.2k points
2 votes

A half-life is how long it takes for half of an element's particles to decay.

In 0 half-lives there will be 100% or 4/4 of the element left

After 1 half-life there will be 50% or 2/4 of the element's original particles left

After 2 half lives there will be 25% or 1/4 of the element's original particles left.

Since there is only 1/4 the original amount of the radium-226, we know that 2 half-lives have passed. Simply divide 3200 by 2 to get the time of 1 half-life.

3200/2 = 1,600 years is the half life of radium-226.


I really hope this helps you =)

User Malki Mohamed
by
7.7k points