The radioisotope, tritium (13H) has a half-life of 12.3 years. If the initial amount of tritium is 32 mg, how many milligrams of it would remain after 49.2 years?
- 1 mg
- 2 mg
- 4 mg
- 8 mg
Answer
(2) 2 mg
Solution
Radioactive decay follows first-order kinetics.
Number of half-lives: n = 49.212.3 = 4
⇒ N = N02n
= 3224
= 2 mg
∴ 2 mg of tritium remains.
Answer: (2)