How Many Daughter Nuclei Exist at Equilibrium in Radioactive Disintegration?

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AI Thread Summary
In a radioactive disintegration chain, the half-lives of the parent and daughter nuclides are 10 years and 25 years, respectively. At equilibrium, the number of parent nuclei is 5 x 10^8, and the decay rates of the parent and daughter nuclei must equalize. The discussion revolves around deriving an equation to express the relationship between the parent and daughter nuclei at equilibrium. It emphasizes that the decay of the daughter nuclei equals the decay of the parent nuclei, leading to a steady-state condition. The key focus is on understanding how to calculate the number of daughter nuclei based on the established equilibrium conditions.
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Homework Statement



In a chain radioactive disintegration,the half-life of the parent and daughter nuclide are 10 years and 25 years respectively.if the disintegration process is at its equilibrium stage with the parent no. of nuclei equal to 5* 10^8, the daughter no. of nuclei will be

Homework Equations


t1/2 = 0.639/λ

n/n0=(1/2)^(t/(t1/2))

n/n0=##e^-λt##

The Attempt at a Solution



t11/2 = 10 years
t21/2 = 25 years
N=No (because its at equilibrium)
→e^-tλ=1
tλ=0??
 
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I would imagine that the processes being in equilibrium means that the number of daughter nuclei that decay is equal to the number of parent nuclei that decay. Can you write an equation from this condition?

Hysteria X said:

Homework Statement



In a chain radioactive disintegration,the half-life of the parent and daughter nuclide are 10 years and 25 years respectively.if the disintegration process is at its equilibrium stage with the parent no. of nuclei equal to 5* 10^8, the daughter no. of nuclei will be

Homework Equations


t1/2 = 0.639/λ

n/n0=(1/2)^(t/(t1/2))

n/n0=##e^-λt##

The Attempt at a Solution



t11/2 = 10 years
t21/2 = 25 years
N=No (because its at equilibrium)
→e^-tλ=1
tλ=0??
 
yes that's what i have writtern n=n0 ?? initial number of nucleus ie parent nuclei = n0 and final number of nuclei ie daughter nuclei=n?
or should i take all together two different equations?
 
No, that's not correct. What's the number of nuclei that decay in a given time?
 
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