Question

The radioisotope phosphorus-32 is used in tracers for measuring phosphorus uptake by plants. The half-life of phosphorus-32 is 14.3 days. How much time is required for the activity of a sample of phosphorus-32 to fall to 7.34 percent of its original value

Answer 1

54 days

Step-by-step explanation:

We have to use the formula;

0.693/t1/2 =2.303/t log Ao/A

Where;

t1/2= half-life of phosphorus-32= 14.3 days

t= time taken for the activity to fall to 7.34% of its original value

Ao=initial activity of phosphorus-32

A= activity of phosphorus-32 after a time t

Note that;

A=0.0734Ao (the activity of the sample decreased to 7.34% of the activity of the original sample)

Substituting values;

0.693/14.3 = 2.303/t log Ao/0.0734Ao

0.693/14.3 = 2.303/t log 1/0.0734

0.693/14.3 = 2.6/t

0.048=2.6/t

t= 2.6/0.048

t= 54 days