A pure sample of ²²⁶Ra contains 3.0 * 10¹⁴atoms of the isotope. If the half-life of ²²⁶Ra = 1.6 * 10³years, what is the decay rate of this sample? (1 Ci = 3.7 * 10¹⁰ decays/s)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The decay rate (activity) is calculated using the formula A = λN, where λ is the decay constant and N is the number of atoms. λ can be found using λ = ln(2) / half-life. After calculating λ and multiplying by N, convert the result to curies using 1 Ci = 3.7 x 10^10 decays/s.

A Pure Sample of 226Ra Contains 3

A Pure Sample of ²²⁶Ra Contains 3