A radioactive element decays exponentially at a rate of 0.13% each hour. Which of the following is true?

a. There will be slightly more radioactive element in 24 hours.

b. The amount of radioactive element will continue to grow infinitely large.

c. If there are 1,000 grams of the element, there will be 756.9 grams in two hours.

d. The amount of the element will decrease closer and closer to zero as time goes on.

Answer: Hello there!

The radioactive element decays exponentially at a rate of 0.13% each hour.

The exponential decay is one where the decrease meant is very fast at the beginning and starts to slow down as time goes.

Radioactive decay is when and radioactive element, which is unstable, losses the "extra energy" that it has in the form of radiation, then as time passes, there will be less radioactivity. Also in this process the element changes, then you will have less mass (ideally).

This says that the correct answer is D.

the other interesting option is the C, let's see if is true.

And if you start with 1000 grams of the element, each "piece" of the element has an 0.13% of decay, then the probability for not decay is 99.87% (or 0.9987 in a decimal form)

then after one hour you have 1000g * (0.9987) = 998.7g

after two hours you have 998.7g * (0.9987) = 997.4

then C is false.