Question

Element X decays radioactively with a half life of 6 minutes. If there are 790 grams of Element X, how long, to the nearest tenth of a minute, would it take the element to decay to 35 grams?

Answer 1

16.8 minutes

Explanation:

-------------------------------------

Answer 2

It takes 27 minutes for the element to decay to 35 grams

Explanation:

Given:

Initial amount = 790 grams

Final amount = 35 grams

Half life = 6 minutes

To find:

Time taken for the element to reduce into 35 grams = ?

Solutions

Time taken =
`half life * ( log(( initial amount)/(final amount)))/(log(2))`

On substituting the values given, Time taken

=
`6 * (log((790)/(35)))/(log(2))`

=
`6 * (log(22.57))/(log(2))`

=
`6 * 4.496`

= 26.97

= 27 minutes