Strontium-90 is a byproduct in nuclear reactors fueled by the radioisotope uranium-235. The half-life of strontium-90 is 28.8 yr. What percentage of a strontium-90 sample remains after 175.0 yr?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The percentage of a radioactive sample remaining after a certain time can be calculated using the formula: Remaining percentage = (1/2)^(time/half-life) * 100. For strontium-90, after 175 years, the calculation is (1/2)^(175/28.8) * 100, which results in approximately 1.48%.

Strontium-90 Is a Byproduct in Nuclear Reactors Fueled by the Radioisotope