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Cesium-137 is part of the nuclear waste produced by uranium-235 fission. The half-life of cesium-137 is 30.2 years. How much time is require
Question
Cesium-137 is part of the nuclear waste produced by uranium-235 fission. The half-life of cesium-137 is 30.2 years. How much time is required for the activity of a sample of cesium-137 to fall to 9.32 percent of its original value
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Chemistry
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2021-07-23T11:44:05+00:00
2021-07-23T11:44:05+00:00 1 Answers
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Answer:
t(9.32% remaining) = 203 yrs (3 sig. figs.)
Explanation:
All radioactive decay follows a 1st order decay profile. This is defined by the expression …
A =A₀e^-k·t
A = final activity = 9.32%
A₀ = initial activity = 100%
e = base of natural logs
k = rate constant = 0.693/t(1/2) = (0.693/30.2) yrs⁻¹ = 0.023 yrs⁻¹
t = time of decay = ln(A/A₀)/-k = ln(9.32%/100%)/-0.023 yrs⁻¹
= 203.286637 yrs (calc. ans.)
≅ 203 yrs (3 sig. figs.)