How Long Does it Take for Radioactive Isotope Potassium-40(K) to Decay to a Quarter?
The Radioactive Isotope Potassium-40 (K)
Potassium-40 (K) is a radioactive isotope that undergoes radioactive decay. It has a half-life of approximately 1.25 billion years. This means that after 1.25 billion years, half of the original amount of potassium-40 will have decayed. The decay process continues, and after another 1.25 billion years, half of the remaining potassium-40 will have decayed. This pattern continues indefinitely.
Decay Time to a Quarter
To calculate the time taken for potassium-40 to decay to a quarter, we need to determine the number of half-lives required. Since it takes two half-lives to reach a quarter, we multiply the half-life of potassium-40 (1.25 billion years) by 2. Therefore, the time taken for potassium-40 to decay to a quarter is 2.5 billion years.
How much time does it take for Radioactive isotope potassium-40(K) to decay to a quarter? A) 1.25 billion years B) 2.5 billion years C) 3.75 billion years D) 5 billion years E) 6.25 billion years Final answer: The radioactive isotope potassium-40 (K) takes 2.5 billion years to decay to a quarter. Explanation: Potassium-40 (K) has a half-life of 1.25 billion years. Therefore, it takes 2.5 billion years to decay to a quarter.