Final answer:
To find out how long it will take for only 18 mg of a 22 mg sample of radium-226 to remain, we can use the radioactive decay formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this problem, we need to use the radioactive decay formula. The formula is given by:
A = A₀ * (1/2)^(t/t½)
Where:
- A is the final amount of the sample
- A₀ is the initial amount of the sample
- t is the time passed
- t½ is the half-life of the sample
In this case, we know that A = 18 mg and A₀ = 22 mg. We want to find t. By substituting the known values into the formula, we can solve for t.