ES 10A

NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

Activity 3

SIMULATION OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY AND HALF-LIFE

Objectives

Introduction

Radioactivity is the property of unstable nuclides to undergo radioactive decay by

spontaneously emitting radiation until they become stable nuclides.

The rate of radioactive decay is constant. This is expressed in half-life, the time required for
half of the nuclei in a sample to undergo radioactive decay. The half-lives of different substances
range from a millisecond to millions of years.

In this activity, you will use a simulation / substitute for an unstable element.

Materials

100 pieces of 25-/10-/5-centavo coins

Ruler

Graphing paper

Blank sheet of paper

Procedure

Part A. Radioactive Decay

1. Place all 100 coins in a container. Cover the mouth of the container with your hand and
shake.

2. Carefully spill the coins onto a flat surface.

3. Set aside all coins that are ‘heads’. These are the atoms that have “decayed.” Count the
number of ‘heads’ and record this on the table.

4. Return the coins that are ‘tails’ in the container and repeat the procedure until all the
atoms have decayed. Record the number of coins removed after each spill.

5. Plot the number of “decayed” atoms against the number of spills (time unit).
Part B. Half-life

1. Draw a 10 cm by 10 cm square. Assume that this square represents all the carbon-14
found in all living things. Divide the square in half with a line to represent the amount
of carbon-14 left after 5,700 years, the approximate half-life of carbon-14.

2. Continue to divide the square to show the amount of carbon-14 left after 11,400 years,
17,100 years, 28,500 years, and 45,600 years.

3. Using the data obtained in steps 1 and 2, plot the time against the fraction of carbon-14
remaining.

Reference

Baguio, S. M., Butaran, R. M. B. (2007). Breaking Through Chemistry Laboratory Manual. C&E
Publishing
Name: ______________________________________ Date:_______________

Section: _______________________________________

ES 10A

NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

Activity 3

SIMULATION OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY AND HALF-LIFE

Data and Observations

1. Radioactive Decay

No. of No. of Coins

Spills
Removed / “Decayed”
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Discussion:
2. Half-life

0 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64 1/128

Discussio
n

Questions

1. If each spill represents 100 years, what would be the half-life of the simulated atom?

2. Will all the carbon-14 in nature eventually disappear? Explain your answer.