Question

From the table of data, substance C will have the least of the original amount remaining after 30 days even though it started with the most.

which is the best explanation for this answer?
A)Substances A and B are not as radioactive since they have longer half-lives.
B)The states of matter for substances A & B are more volatile than substance C.
C)Substances that start with large amounts will always decay at faster rates.
D)Substance C goes through a significantly larger amount of half-lives compared to the other substances.

Answer 1

D)Substance C goes through a significantly larger amount of half-lives compared to the other substances.

Step-by-step explanation:

Half life refers to the time taken for a radioactive isotope to decay to half of the original amount of radioactive substance present initially.

The shorter the half life of a radioactive substance, the more the amount of half-lives the substance undergoes within the given time period. Substance A will undergo five half lives within 30 days. Substance B will undergo six half lives within 30 days while substance C will undergo ten half lives within 30 days.

Since Substance C undergoes the highest amount of half lives within 30 days, substance C will have the least of the original amount remaining after 30 days even though it started with the most.