It has been suggested that strontium-90 (generated by nuclear testing) deposited in the hot desert will undergo radioactive decay more rapidly because it will be exposed to much higher average temperatures. (a) Is this a reasonable suggestion? (Section 14.5) (b) Does the process of radioactive decay have an activation energy, like the Arrhenius behavior of many chemical reactions (Section 14.5)?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of radioactive decay. Radioactive decay is a nuclear process where an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation. This process is not influenced by external factors such as temperature, pressure, or chemical state.
2. Step 2: Consider the suggestion that higher temperatures might affect the rate of radioactive decay. In chemical reactions, higher temperatures can increase reaction rates due to increased molecular motion and collision frequency. However, radioactive decay is a nuclear process, not a chemical one.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the concept of activation energy in the context of radioactive decay. Activation energy is a term used in chemical kinetics to describe the minimum energy required for a reaction to occur. Radioactive decay does not require activation energy because it is a spontaneous process governed by the stability of the nucleus.
4. Step 4: Compare radioactive decay to chemical reactions. Chemical reactions often follow the Arrhenius equation, which shows that reaction rates increase with temperature due to activation energy. Radioactive decay, however, is not affected by temperature changes because it does not involve breaking or forming chemical bonds.
5. Step 5: Conclude whether the suggestion is reasonable. Given that radioactive decay is a nuclear process unaffected by temperature, the suggestion that strontium-90 will decay more rapidly in a hot desert due to higher temperatures is not reasonable. The decay rate is determined by the isotope's half-life, which is constant regardless of environmental conditions.