In: Chemistry
32P is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 14.3 days. If you currently have 30.9 g of 32P, how much 32P was present 9.00 days ago?
Answer – We are given, half life t ½ = 14.3 days , Nt = 30.9 g , Ni = ? time, t = 9.00 days
We know, the radioactive decay process is follow the first order
So, half life formula for first order is
Half-life , t ½ = 0.693 /k
So, decay constant , k = 0.693/ t ½
= 0.693 / 14.3 days
= 0.0485 days-1
We know the formula for the first order
ln Nt/ Ni = -k *t
so, ln 30.9 g / Ni = - 0.0485 days-1 * 9.00 days
= - 0.436
Taking antiln from both side
30.9 g / Ni = 0.647
So, Ni = 30.9 / 0.647
= 47.8 g
So, 47.8 g of 32P was present 9.00 days ago.