Tritium (3H) decays by negative beta decay (negatron) with a half-life of 12.26

Question

Tritium (3H) decays by negative beta decay (negatron) with a half-life of 12.26 years. The atomic weight of 3H is 3.016. (a) To what nucleus does 3H decay? (b) What is the mass in grams of 1 mCi of tritanium?
Tritium (3H) decays by negative beta decay (negatron) with a half-life of 12.26 years. The atomic weight of 3H is 3.016. (a) To what nucleus does 3H decay? (b) What is the mass in grams of 1 mCi of tritanium?
Tritium (3H) decays by negative beta decay (negatron) with a half-life of 12.26 years. The atomic weight of 3H is 3.016. (a) To what nucleus does 3H decay? (b) What is the mass in grams of 1 mCi of tritanium?

Explanation / Answer

3H1, after decaying 1 particle gets converted to Helium atom.
From the rules of radioactivity and decay constant, we get following formula;

1 Ci = 2.7972*10^-6 (moles) * t1/2 in years

Substituting the values, we get,

1 Ci = 2.7972*10^-6*12.26 (moles) = 0.00003429367 moles

So, 1000 mCi = 1 Ci

Therefore, 1 mCi = 0.00003429367/1000 moles

Molar mass of Tritium = 3.016 g/mol.

So the mass of 1 mCi = 3.016*0.00003429367/1000 g = 1.034x10^-7 g

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