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The half-life of element T is 1 week. How much of a 100g sample is left after 90 days?

A) 0.78125g
B) 6.25g
C) 25g
D) 50g

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

After 90 days, only 0.78125g of a 100g sample of the element with a half-life of 1 week remains, as calculated using the formula for exponential decay.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question involves calculating the remaining amount of a radioactive substance after a period of time, specifically related to its half-life. With a half-life of 1 week for element T, we need to determine how many half-lives pass in a period of 90 days. Since 1 week is equivalent to 7 days, there will be 90/7 = approximately 12.86 half-lives in 90 days. To determine how much of the original 100g sample remains, we use the formula for exponential decay:

Remaining amount = Initial amount × (1/2)^number of half-lives

Thus:

Remaining amount = 100g × (1/2)^(12.86)

Performing this calculation gives us a remaining amount significantly less than 1g, which indicates that option A (0.78125g) is the closest correct answer. Therefore:

After 90 days, 0.78125g of a 100g sample of element T is left.

User Omer Tuchfeld
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