Radioactive decay is always a first-order kinetic process. Uranium-238 decays to lead-206, which is stable, with an effective half-life of 4.51 billion years. Sediment from the ocean contains 0.00150 grams uranium-238 and 4.60 x 10-4 grams lead-206. Assume lead-206 is formed only by uranium-238 decay, and there was no lead-206 present when the sediment formed; estimate the age of the sediment.
Radioactive decay
The emission of energy to produce ionizing radiation is known as radioactive decay. Alpha, beta particles, and gamma rays are examples of ionizing radiation that could be released. Radioactive decay happens in radionuclides, which are imbalanced atoms. This periodic table's elements come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Several of these kinds are stable like nitrogen-14, hydrogen-2, and potassium-40, whereas others are not like uranium-238. In nature, one of the most stable phases of an element is usually the most prevalent. Every element, meanwhile, has an unstable state. Unstable variants are radioactive and release ionizing radiation. Certain elements, including uranium, have no stable forms and are constantly radioactive. Radionuclides are elements that release ionizing radiation.
Artificial Radioactivity
The radioactivity can be simply referred to as particle emission from nuclei due to the nuclear instability. There are different types of radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Along with these there are different types of decay as well.
Radioactive decay is always a first-order kinetic process. Uranium-238 decays to lead-206,
which is stable, with an effective half-life of 4.51 billion years. Sediment from the ocean
contains 0.00150 grams uranium-238 and 4.60 x 10-4 grams lead-206. Assume lead-206 is
formed only by uranium-238 decay, and there was no lead-206 present when the sediment
formed; estimate the age of the sediment.
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps with 25 images
