Using the half-life of Am-241, its molar mass and the mass of the sample, we can calculate that it will release 3.57 * 10¹¹ α-particles each second.
If the half-life of Am-241 is 432 years, that means that in 432 years, we will have half of the starting amount, which is:
3.89 g / 2 = 1.945 g
Using the molar mass of Am-241 (241 g/mol), we can calculate the number of moles (n) in 1.945 g:
n = m/M = 1.945 g / 241 g/mol = 8.07 * 10⁻³ mol
Because each mol contains 6.022 * 10²³ particles, over 432 years we will release:
8.07 * 10⁻³ * 6.022 * 10²³ = 4.86 * 10² α-particles
Now we can calculate the number of seconds in 432 years:
432 years * 365.25 days * 24 hours * 60 minutes * 60 seconds = 1.36 * 10¹⁰ seconds
So, each second the sample of Am-241 will release:
4.86 * 10²¹ / 1.36 * 10¹⁰ = 3.57 * 10¹¹ α-particles
You can learn more about half-life here:
brainly.com/question/16387602
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