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Chapter 42: Q.58 (page 1238)

The plutonium isotope 239 Pu has a half-life of 24,000 years and decays by the emission of a 5.2 MeV alpha particle. Plutonium is not especially dangerous if handled because the activity is low and the alpha radiation doesn鈥檛 penetrate the skin. However, there are serious health concerns if even the tiniest particles of plutonium are inhaled and lodge deep in the lungs. This could happen following any kind of fire or explosion that disperses plutonium as dust. Let鈥檚 determine the level of danger.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The unstable nuclei undergo radioactive decay. We can predict the decay pattern. the number of left(N)

Step by step solution

01

Determinate using exponential decay equation

N=Noe-tt

Here the number of atoms at the time

N=No2ast鈫�t12Theequation(1)canalsobewrittenintermsofhalflifetimeN=No12tt12

02

The number of decay per second of the radioactive sample is know as activity(R)

R=Ro12dtHere,theactivityatthetimet=0isRoRo=rNotheequationfor,R=tn2t12Inthisproblemwewillevaluate

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The uranium isotope U238is naturally present at low levels in many soils. One of the nuclei in the decay series of U238is the radon isotope R222n, which decays by emitting a localid="1650487447445" 5.50MeValpha particle with localid="1650487458663" t1/2=3.82days. Radon is a gas, and it tends to seep from soil into basements. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that homeowners take steps to remove radon, by pumping in fresh air, if the radon activity exceeds 4pCiperliterof air.

a. How many R222natoms are there in 1m3of air if the activity is 4pCiL?

b. The range of alpha particles in air is 鈮�3cm. Suppose we model a person as a 180-cm-tall, 25-cm-diameter cylinder with a mass of 65kg. Only decays within 3cmof the cylinder can cause exposure, and only 鈮�50%, of the decays direct the alpha particle toward the person. Determine the dose in mSvperyearfor a person who spends the entire year in a room where the activity is 4pCi/L.

c. Does the EPA recommendation seem appropriate? Why?

A sample of 1.0x1010atoms that decay by alpha emission

has a half-life of 100 min. How many alpha particles are emitted

between t = 50 min and t = 200 min?

a. Is the binding energy of a nucleus with A=200more than, less than, or equal to the binding energy of a nucleus with A=60? Explain.

b. Is a nucleus with A=200more tightly bound, less tightly bound, or bound equally tightly as a nucleus with A=60? Explain.

A 115mCiradioactive tracer is made in a nuclear reactor. When it is delivered to a hospital hours later its activity is 95mCi. The lowest usable level of activity is 10mCi.

A. What is the tracer鈥檚 half-life?

B. For how long after delivery is the sample usable?

The barium isotope 131Ba has a half-life of 12 days. A 250 渭mg

sample of 131Ba is prepared. What is the mass of 131Ba after

(a) 1 day, (b) 10 days, and (c) 100 days?
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