130k views
5 votes
A 24-gram sample of a radioactive nuclide decayed to 3.0 grams of the nuclide in 36 minutes. How much of the original nuclide sample remained after the first 12 minutes?

User Sekrett
by
8.3k points

1 Answer

3 votes
The sample decreased to
(1)/(8) of its original size, so it underwent
\log_(2) 8=3 half-lives.

One half life is then

(36\ min)/(3)=12\ min

One-half of 24 grams is 12 grams, so 12 grams remained after the first 12 minutes.
User Ivan Nesterenko
by
7.9k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.