Cesium-137 has a half life of 30.0 years. If initially there are 8.0 kg of cesium-137 present in a sample, how many kg will remain after 60.0 years?
k = 0.693/t1/2 and substitute k into the equation below.
ln(No/N) = kt
No = 8 kg
N = ?
k from above
t = 60.0 years.
To calculate the amount of cesium-137 that will remain after 60.0 years, we can use the concept of half-life.
The half-life of Cesium-137 is given as 30.0 years. This means that every 30.0 years, the amount of Cesium-137 present will be reduced by half.
Since 60.0 years is equal to two half-lives (30.0 years x 2), we can calculate the amount remaining by halving the initial amount twice.
Starting with 8.0 kg of Cesium-137, after the first half-life of 30.0 years, we would have 4.0 kg remaining (half of the initial amount). After the second half-life of 30.0 years, we would again halve the remaining amount, resulting in 2.0 kg.
Therefore, after 60.0 years, there will be 2.0 kg of cesium-137 remaining from the initial 8.0 kg sample.