Nuclear Chemistry Homework Problem Set

This problem set was developed by S.E. Van Bramer for Chemistry 146 at Widener University.


  1. Radioactive 123I was produced in a nuclear reactor. The a series of experiments was preformed to determine the concentration of 123I at different times. The results are given in the table below.
    1. Graph this data
    2. Graph this data for a first order kinetics plot
    3. What is the rate constant for the radioactive decay of 123I?
    4. Based upon this data what is the half life for 123I?
    5. How much 123I will remain after 3 days?

      Time (hr) Activity
      0 0.00256
      3 0.002189
      6 0.001873
      9 0.001602
      12 0.00137
      15 0.001171
      18 0.001002
      21 0.000857
      24 0.000733
      27 0.000627
      30 0.000536
      33 0.000458
      36 0.000392
      39 0.000335
      42 0.000287
      45 0.000245
      48 0.00021


Please send comments or suggestions to svanbram@science.widener.edu

Scott Van Bramer
Department of Chemistry
Widener University
Chester, PA 19013

© copyright 1996, S.E. Van Bramer
This page has been accessed times since 1/5 /96 .

Last Updated: Saturday, May 18, 1996