Question

At the end of 2 half-lives of the element candium, estimate the fraction of the atoms that had not yet decayed. at the end of 2 half-lives of the element candium, estimate the fraction of the atoms that had not yet decayed. A. 1/16, B. 1/2, C. 1/8, D. 1/4

Answer 1

After two half-lives, half of the half (1/2 * 1/2) or 1/4 of the original atoms of the element candium have not decayed, making option (D) 1/4 the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is about estimating the fraction of atoms that have not decayed after two half-lives of the element candium. A half-life is the time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to decay. When one half-life has passed, half of the original atoms have decayed, leaving 50% of the atoms. After a second half-life has passed, half of the remaining atoms have decayed, leaving only half of the 50% (i.e., 25%) of the original number of atoms.

Therefore, after two half-lives, we are left with 1/4 of the original atoms. Answer (D) 1/4 is the correct choice; it represents the fraction of the atoms of candium that have not yet decayed after two half-lives.