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A radioactive substance has a half-life of H minutes. If a given amount of this element decays to 10% of its original mass in one hour, what is the half-life of this element? Thanks.

 Apr 29, 2017
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You can calculate half-life as follows:

10% =2^-(60/H), where H is half-life

0.10 =2^-(60/H)  take the log of both sides

-60/H = Log(0.1) / Log(2)

-60/H = -3.3219280

H =-60/-3.321928

H =~18.06 minutes half-life of the substance.

 Apr 29, 2017

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