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The half-life of rubidium-89 is 15 minutes. If the initial mass of the isotope is 250 grams, how many grams will be left after 100 minutes?

Mathematics

User EdvRusj
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Exponential decay can be expressed as:

f=ir^t, f=final value, i=initial value, r=common ratio or "rate" and t=times ratio is applied or "time"

We are told that the half life is 15 minutes and that means that i=2f at that point

1=2r^15

1/2=r^15 if we raise each side to the power of 1/15 we have:

(1/2)^(1/15)=r now that we know the rate and the initial value, 250g we have:

f=250(1/2)^(1/15)^t which is equal to:

f=250(1/2)^(t/15) so when t=100 minutes...

f=250(1/2)^(100/15) g

f≈2.46 g (to nearest hundredth of a gram)
User Jerrymouse
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