Nuclear Chemistry and RadioactivityhardNUMERICAL

What is the total time in years required for a radioactive nuclide to decay to exactly th of its iniNuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity Chemistry Question

Question

What is the total time in years required for a radioactive nuclide to decay to exactly $1/8$ th of its initial activity, given that its half-life period is $10\text{ years}$?

Answer: 30

💡 Solution & Explanation

The activity of a radioactive substance drops to $(1/2)^n$ of its initial value after $n$ half-lives. We are given the remaining fraction is $1/8$, which is $(1/2)^3$. Thus, $n = 3$ half-lives have passed. Since each half-life is $10\text{ years}$, the total time taken is $3 \times 10 = 30\text{ years}$.

💬
Still have doubts about this question?
Send it to our AI chemistry tutor on WhatsApp — gets answered in minutes
Ask on WhatsApp →

Practice 22,000+ questions like this

AI-adaptive practice, video lectures, and full NEET Chemistry content — all in one place.

JEE Advanced · JEE Mains · NEET · IChO · AP Chemistry