In: Chemistry
Consider 100 g of 252Fm, which decays in a sequence of 5 α decays to eventually reach 232Th. The relevant half-lives follow:
252 Fm :25.39 hr
248 Cf :333.5 d
244 Cm : 18.10 yr
240Pu : 6564yr
236 U :2.34 × 10^7 yr
232 Th :1.41 × 10^10 yr
For the following questions, state clearly any approximations that you need to make. a) How much of the original sample is 252Fm and how much is 248Cf after one day? b) After one month? c) Explain why it is mostly curium after 5 years. d) What isotope is it mostly after 100 years? e) Approximately how long it will take the sample to be mostly thorium?