Question

Phosphorus-32 (32P) is an isotope that is commonly used for medical and biological research. Phosphorus-32 has a half-life of 14.28 days. A researcher orders a sample of 32P that has an activity of 5.0 mCi when it arrives. If delivery of the sample took 48 hours, what was the activity of the sample when it was shipped from the manufacturer

Answer 1

The activity of the sample when it was shipped from the manufacturer is 4.54 mCi

How to determine the number of half-lives that has elapsed

From the question given above, the following data were obtained:

• Time (t) = 48 hours
• Half-life (t½) = 14.28 days = 14.28 × 24 = 342.72 hours
• Number of half-lives (n) =?

n = t / t½

n = 48 / 342.72

n = 0.14

How to determine the activity of the sample during shipping

• Number of half-lives (n) = 0.14
• Original activity (N₀) = 5.0 mCi
• Activity remaining (N) =?

N = N₀ / 2ⁿ

N = 5 / 2^0.14

N = 4.54 mCi

Thus, the activity of the sample during shipping is 4.54 mCi

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