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2 votes
If the half-life of an isotope is 50 years, calculate the percent of original radioactive atoms that remain radioactive after 200 years.

A
none

B
50%

C
12.5%

D
6.25%

User Mstef
by
2.9k points

2 Answers

3 votes

Final answer:

After 200 years, which is equivalent to four half-lives of 50 years each, 6.25% of the original radioactive atoms remain. The correct answer is D) 6.25%.

Step-by-step explanation:

We can calculate the percentage of the original radioactive atoms remaining after a certain period of time by using the concept of half-lives. In this instance, the isotope has a half-life of 50 years. After one half-life (50 years), 50% of a sample would remain. After two half-lives (100 years), this amount would reduce to 25%. After three half-lives (150 years), it would go down to 12.5%. And after four half-lives (200 years), it would halve again to 6.25%.

Therefore, the correct answer is D) 6.25%, because this is the percentage of radioactive atoms that would remain radioactive after 200 years, equivalent to four half-lives of 50 years each.

User JWqvist
by
3.6k points
5 votes

Answer:

A. none

Step-by-step explanation:

after 200 years, it would be 100 years gone

50+50=100

User Jaredwilli
by
3.1k points