Answer :
To determine how long it takes for a sample of francium-223 to decay by 50%, we need to understand the concept of half-life. The half-life of a substance is the time required for half of any sample of the substance to decay and transform into another substance.
Francium-223 is a radioactive element with a known half-life. In this context, when we say "decay by 50%," we mean that half of the original sample has transformed. For francium-223, the half-life is approximately 20 minutes. This means that every 20 minutes, half of the francium-223 sample has decayed.
Therefore, the time it takes a sample of francium-223 to decay by 50% is approximately:
C. 20 minutes
This is because the half-life directly corresponds to the time it takes the substance to reduce by half its original mass.
Francium-223 is a radioactive element with a known half-life. In this context, when we say "decay by 50%," we mean that half of the original sample has transformed. For francium-223, the half-life is approximately 20 minutes. This means that every 20 minutes, half of the francium-223 sample has decayed.
Therefore, the time it takes a sample of francium-223 to decay by 50% is approximately:
C. 20 minutes
This is because the half-life directly corresponds to the time it takes the substance to reduce by half its original mass.
