Question 12 Marks
The decay constant of $\text{ }^{197}_{80}\text{Hg} ($electron capture to $\text{ }^{197}_{79}\text{Au})$ is $1.8 \times 10^{-4} S^{-1}$.
- What is the half$-$life?
- What is the average$-$life?
- How much time will it take to convert $25\%$ of this isotope of mercury into gold?
Answer
View full question & answer→- $\text{t}_{\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{0.693}{\lambda} [\lambda\rightarrow$ Decay constant$]$
- Average life $=\frac{\text{t}_{\frac{1}{2}}}{0.693}=92\text{min}.$
- $0.75=1\text{e}^{-\lambda\text{t}}\Rightarrow\text{In }0.75=-\lambda\text{t}$