Concept explainers
(a)
Interpretation:
To analyse whether the given statement - Half-life is the time it takes one-half of a radioactive sample to decay, is true or not.
Concept Introduction:
Half-life is defined as a time required for decaying one-half part of any sample which is a radioactive material. Some elements are having isotopes that decay and disappear in a day while some can remain radioactive for billions of years. It can be calculated as below:
(b)
Interpretation:
To analyse whether the given statement − The concept of half-life refers to nuclei undergoing alpha, beta, and positron emission; it does not apply to nuclei undergoing gamma emission, is true or not.
Concept Introduction:
Half-life is defined as a time required for decaying one-half part of any sample which is a radioactive material. Some elements are having isotopes that decay and disappear in a day while some can remain radioactive for billions of years. It can be calculated as below:
(c)
Interpretation:
To analyse whether the given statement - At the end of two half-lives, one-half of the original radioactive sample remains; at the end of three half-lives, one-third of the original sample remains, is true or not.
Concept Introduction:
Half-life is defined as a time required for decaying one-half part of any sample which is a radioactive material. Some elements are having isotopes that decay and disappear in a day while some can remain radioactive for billions of years. It can be calculated as below:
(d)
Interpretation:
To analyse whether the given statement - If the half-life of a particular radioactive sample is 12 minutes, a time of 36 minutes represnts three half-lives, is true or not.
Concept Introduction:
Half-life is defined as a time required for decaying one-half part of any sample which is a radioactive material. Some elements are having isotopes that decay and disappear in a day while some can remain radioactive for billions of years. It can be calculated as below:
(e)
Interpretation:
To analyse whether the given statement - At the end of three half-lives, only 12.5% of anoriginal radioactive sample remains, is true or not.
Concept Introduction:
Half-life is defined as a time required for decaying one-half part of any sample which is a radioactive material. Some elements are having isotopes that decay and disappear in a day while some can remain radioactive for billions of years. It can be calculated as below:
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 9 Solutions
Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry