If We Start With 400 Atoms Of A Radioactive Substance, How Many Would Remain After Two Half-Lives?

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Accepted Answer

Two half-lives produce (1/2) x (1/2) = 1/4 of the decaying substance.There would still be  400  atoms.  But  300  would have thrown offparticles from their nucleuses, and only  100  would still be radioactive.

Suggested Answer

You basically take a half-life one at a time. The first half-live gets rid of 200 of the atoms, leaving you with 200. Then the second half life gets rid of 100 of the remaining atoms (half of the 200) leaving you with 100 atoms

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