Textbook Question
(b) At 320°C the rate constant is 2.2 × 10-5 s-1. What is the half-life at this temperature?
15. Chemical Kinetics
Half-Life
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The graph below shows the decay of a radioactive isotope. What is the half-life of the isotope?
A
5 years
B
15 years
C
10 years
D
20 years
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the concept of half-life: The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time required for half of the isotope to decay. This is a constant value for a given isotope.
Examine the graph: Look for the point where the quantity of the isotope is reduced to half of its initial amount. This point on the time axis represents the half-life.
Determine the initial quantity: Note the starting amount of the isotope from the graph, which is typically at time zero.
Find the half quantity: Calculate half of the initial quantity and locate this value on the graph.
Read the corresponding time: Trace horizontally from the half quantity to the time axis to find the time it takes for the isotope to decay to half its initial amount. This time is the half-life of the isotope.
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