Plutonium-238 is an $\alpha$ emitter and a compact heat source. Coupled with a PbTe thermoelectric device, it is used as a very reliable electrical energy source for cardiac pacemakers. It has a half-life of 86 years and an atomic weight of 238.0495 g/mol. One mol is equal to 6.02 * 10²³ atoms. If 100.0 grams of ²³⁸Pu were used in a pacemaker, how many $\alpha$ particles would it produce in 10 years?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Plutonium-238 has a half-life of 86 years, which means the amount of ²³⁸Pu will be reduced to half every 86 years. In 10 years, the amount of ²³⁸Pu used will be reduced to approximately 79% of its original amount (since 2 half-lives have passed). Therefore, the mass of ²³⁸Pu used after 10 years is approximately 79 grams. The number of particles is then calculated by dividing the mass by the atomic weight and multiplying by Avogadro's number: (79 g / 238.0495 g/mol) x (6.02 F1F1F1S1F1F1F10 10²³ atoms/mol) = 1.96 F1F1F1S1F1F1F10 10²² particles Therefore, the best choice is D.

Plutonium-238 Is An α\alphaα Emitter and a Compact Heat Source α\alphaα Particles Would It Produce in 10 Years? A) 6

Plutonium-238 Is An $\alpha$ Emitter and a Compact Heat Source $\alpha$ Particles Would It Produce in 10 Years?
A) 6