Question

You have a radioactive isotope with a mass of 400 grams. The sample has a half life of 5 days. How much is left after 25 days have passed?

Answer 1

Amount left after 25 days = 12.5 g

Step-by-step explanation:

Given data:

Mass of sample = 400 g

Half life of sample = 5 days

Mass left after 25 days = ?

Solution:

First of all we will calculate the number of half lives passes in given time period.

Number of half lives = Time elapsed / Half life

Number of half lives = 25 days/ 5 days

Number of half lives = 5

At time zero = 400 g

At 1st half life = 400 g/2 = 200 g

At 2nd half life = 200 g/2 = 100 g

At 3rd half life = 100 g/2 = 50 g

At 4th half life = 50 g/2 = 25 g

At 5th half life = 25 g/2 = 12.5 g