Chapter 24: Q24.35 P (page 1104)

What is the specific activity (in $Bq / g$ ) if $8 .58 μ g$ of an isotope emits $7 .4 \times 10^{4} α$ particles per minute?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The specific activity is $1.43 \times 10^{- 4} Bq / g.$

Step by step solution

Definition of Kinetics of Radioactive Decay

The decrease in the number of radioactive nuclei per unit time is the rate of decay, or activity, of a sample of a radioactive substance

Calculate the specific activity

An isotope's mass is calculated as follows:

$\begin{matrix} m = 8.58 μ g \\ = 8.58 \times 10^{- 6} g. \end{matrix}$

The radioactive isotope's activity is :

$A = 7.4 \times 10^{4}$ decays $/ min$ .

$1 Bq = 1 decay / s$

We need to find the specific activity (in Bq/g)

Let's begin by converting the activity from decays/s to Bq

$\begin{matrix} A = 7.4 \times 10^{4} \frac{decays}{\min} \times \frac{1 min}{60 s} \\ = 1.23 \times 10^{3} \frac{decays}{s} \times \frac{1 Bq}{1 decay / s} \\ = 1.23 \times 10^{3} Bq. \end{matrix}$

We can now compute the specific activity.

Therefore, the specific activity is:

$\begin{matrix} s p e c i f i c a c t i v i t y = \frac{A}{m} \\ = \frac{1.23 \times 10^{3} Bq}{8.58 \times 10^{6} g} \\ = 1.43 \times 10^{- 4} Bq / g. \end{matrix}$

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What is the specific activity (in $Bq / g$ ) if $8 .58 μ g$ of an isotope emits $7 .4 \times 10^{4} α$ particles per minute?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of Kinetics of Radioactive Decay

Calculate the specific activity

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What is the specific activity (inBq/g ) if 8.58μgof an isotope emits 7.4×104αparticles per minute?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of Kinetics of Radioactive Decay

Calculate the specific activity

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Making Measurements

Chemical Reactions

Chemistry Branches

Nuclear Chemistry

Chemical Analysis

Organic Chemistry

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

What is the specific activity (in $Bq / g$ ) if $8 .58 μ g$ of an isotope emits $7 .4 \times 10^{4} α$ particles per minute?