Rutherfordium-261 has a half-life of $1.08 \mathrm {~min}$. How long will it take for a sample of rutherfordium to lose one-third of its nuclei?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To lose one-third of its nuclei, the sample must decay to two-thirds of its original amount. Using the decay formula $N(t) = N_0 \times (1/2)^{t/T_{1/2}}$, solve for $t$ when $N(t)/N_0 = 2/3$. This gives $t = T_{1/2} \times \log_{1/2}(2/3) \approx 0.632 \mathrm{~min}$.

Rutherfordium-261 Has a Half-Life Of 1.08 min1.08 \mathrm {~min}1.08 min How Long Will It Take for a Sample of Long

Rutherfordium-261 Has a Half-Life Of $1.08 \mathrm {~min}$ How Long Will It Take for a Sample of Long