Cobalt – 60 used in cancer therapy, decays by beta and gamma emission. The decay constant is 4.18x10 -9 /s. What is the half-life in years?

Respuesta :

The decay constant ( λ) tells us the probability of a radioactive nuclide in time. We can relate the decay constant to the half-life of the nuclide by the following equation:

[tex]t_{\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{ln2}{\lambda}[/tex]

Where λ is the decay constant and t1/2 is the half-life time

We replace the value of λ and we find the half-life time

[tex]t_{1/2}=\frac{ln2}{4.18\times10^{-9}/s}[/tex][tex]t_{1/2}=1.66\times10^8s\times\frac{1year}{3.154\times10^7s}=5.26years[/tex]

The half-time of Cobalt-60 is 5.26 years

Answer: 5.26 years