The radioisotope phosphorus-32 is used in tracers for measuring phosphorus uptake by plants. The half-life of phosphorus-32 is 14.3 days. If you begin with 30.5 mg of this isotope, what mass remains after 27.5 days have passed? Since the decomposition is a radioactive decay reaction, it is first order.

The mass remains after 27.5 days is 8.043 mg.

Explanation:

Given that:

Half life = 14.3 days

Where, k is rate constant

So,  

The rate constant, k = 0.04847 days⁻¹

Time = 27.5 days

Using integrated rate law for first order kinetics as:

Where,  

is the concentration at time t

is the initial concentration  = 30.5 mg

So,  

The mass remains after 27.5 days is 8.043 mg.

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