The table shows the amount of radioactive element remaining in a sample over a period of time. Part 1: What is the half-life of the element? Explain how you determined this.

Part 2: How long would it take 308 g of the sample to decay to 4.8125 grams? Show your work or explain your answer.

1. The half-life is 22 years.

2. 132 years

Explanation:

1. Determination of the the half-life.

The half-life of an element is the time taken for half the element to decay.

From the table given above, the original amount of the element 45 g. If we divide 45 by 2, we'll have 22.5 g as half the original amount of element.

Now, the time taken to obtain 22.5 g as shown from the table is 22 years.

Thus, the half-life the element is 22 years.

2. Determination of the time.

Original amount (N₀) = 308 g

Amount remaining (N) = 4.8125 g

Time (t) =?

Next, we shall the number of half-lives that has elapsed. This can be obtained as follow:

Original amount (N₀) = 308 g

Amount remaining (N) = 4.8125 g

Number of half-lives (n) =?

N = 1/2ⁿ × N₀

4.8125 = 1/2ⁿ × 308

Cross multiply

4.8125 × 2ⁿ = 308

Divide both side by 4.8125

2ⁿ = 308 / 4.8125

2ⁿ = 64

Express 64 in index form with 2 as the base.

2ⁿ = 2⁶

n = 6

Thus, 6 half-lives has elapsed.

Finally, we shall determine the time. This can be obtained as follow:

Number of half-lives (n) = 6

Half-life (t½) = 22 years

Time (t) =?

n = t / t½

6= t / 22 years

Cross multiply

t = 6 ×22

t = 132 years.

Thus, the time taken is 132 years.

14 days is the half-life of phosphorus-32