How can I calculate nuclear half life?

Damion Hardin

Damion Hardin

Answered question

2022-04-12

How can I calculate nuclear half life?

Answer & Explanation

Cortez Hughes

Cortez Hughes

Beginner2022-04-13Added 23 answers

Consider that radioactive decay follow first order kinetics. Recall,
ln [ A ] t = k t + ln [ A ] 0 . . . ( 1 )
Now, consider,
ln ( [ A ] t [ A ] 0 ) = k t
ln ( [ A ] 0 [ A ] t ) k = t
ln ( 2 1 ) k = t
t 1 2 = ln ( 2 ) k . . . ( 2 )
Now, if we knew the rate constant for the specific decay, we could calculate the half life of that radioactive sample.
Or, practically, we could measure a sample at different intervals and calculate the rate constant in (1) and apply it to (2).

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