The decay of a radioactive isotope takes place by disintegration of the atomic nucleus.

It is not

Influenced by any external conditions. Therefore the rate of decay is characteristic of an isotope and

Depends only on the number of atoms present. If N be the number of undecayed atoms of an isotope

Present in a sample of the isotope, at time t,

– dN N

dt ∝ or – dN N

dt

= λ … (1)

Where – dN

Dt means the rate of decrease in the number of radioactive atoms in the sample; and λ is the

Proportionality factor. This is known as the decay constant or disintegration constant. Putting

Dt = 1 in equation (1) we have

– dN

= λ … (2)
Thus decay constant may be defined as the proportion of atoms of an isotope decaying per

Second.

UNITS OF RADIOACTIVITY

The standard unit of radioactivity (i.e. rate of disintegration) is Curie (c). A curie is a quantity of

Radioactive material decaying at the same rate as 1 g of Radium (3.7 × 1010 dps). Rutherford is a more

Recent unit.

1 Rutherford = 106 dps

The S.I. unit is Becquerel

1 Bq = 1 dps

Let the number of atoms of radioactive substance at the beginning = N0

Number of atoms left after the time t = N

Rate of reaction (disintegration) oc N

tiA d\

— oc\

r or — = AJV - or ..(28,1 )

dt dt

where A = Disintegration constant

Equation (28.1) may be written as

—dN

= M .. .(28.2)
N

Integrating Eq. (28.2), we get

-I n = + C . . .(28.3)

where C is the constant of integration

when t = 0, N = NQ,

substituting in Eq. (28.3),

-In N0 = C

Substituting the value of C in Eq. (28.3)

-In N = to-In Ao or A/ = In AT0

-In A

Iln

tN

or A/ = In or A = N

Converting natural log (In) into log to the base 10, we get

2.303

*0 k = log

tN

This equation is called radioactive disintegration.

1. Half Life of a Radioactive Element Half-life of a radioactive element, represented by ty2 or

tg.5

is the time required for the disintegration of one half of the original amount.

At t = to.5

, the disintegration equation can be written as