The half-life for the radioactive decay of C-14 is 5730 years and is independent of the initial concentration. If a sample of C-14 initially contains 1.5 mmol of C-14, how many millimoles are left after 2255 years?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of half-life. The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for half of the substance to decay. In this case, the half-life of C-14 is 5730 years, which means that after 5730 years, half of the initial amount of C-14 will have decayed.
2. Step 2: Calculate the number of half-lives that have passed. This can be done by dividing the total time that has passed (2255 years) by the half-life of the substance (5730 years).
3. Step 3: Use the formula for exponential decay to calculate the remaining amount of C-14. The formula is N = N0 * (1/2)^(t/t_half), where N is the final amount, N0 is the initial amount, t is the time that has passed, and t_half is the half-life.
4. Step 4: Substitute the given values into the formula. N0 is the initial amount of C-14, which is 1.5 mmol. t is the time that has passed, which is 2255 years. t_half is the half-life of C-14, which is 5730 years.
5. Step 5: Solve the equation to find the remaining amount of C-14. This will give you the amount of C-14 that is left after 2255 years.

Key Concepts

Half-life

Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay. For C-14, this period is 5730 years, meaning that after this time, only half of the original amount remains. Understanding half-life is crucial for calculating the remaining quantity of a radioactive substance after a specific time has elapsed.

Exponential decay

Exponential decay describes the process by which a quantity decreases at a rate proportional to its current value. In the context of radioactive decay, the amount of C-14 decreases exponentially over time, which can be mathematically represented by the equation N(t) = N0 * (1/2)^(t/T), where N0 is the initial amount, t is the elapsed time, and T is the half-life.

Radioactive decay formula

The radioactive decay formula allows us to calculate the remaining quantity of a radioactive isotope after a certain period. For C-14, the formula can be applied to determine how much remains after 2255 years by substituting the values into the exponential decay equation, taking into account the half-life of 5730 years to find the remaining millimoles.