How long will it take for a radioactive isotope with a decay constant of 0.15 (which means a half life of 4.6 days ) to decay to 5% of its original value?

For half lives


A=final amount
P=present amount
t=time in some units (this case it is days)
h=half life in days in th is case

so
given
we want 5% left
so A=5% of P or 5/100 of P or 1/20 of P or 0.05P

h=4.6

so

divide bth sides by P

take ln of both sides



divide both sides by

times both sides by 4.6

use your calculator
19.889t
so after about 20 days

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