Samarium has a half-life of approximately 106 billion years. If you found a sample of samarium from the beginning of Earth's history, approximately 4.6 billion years ago, which would be the best approximation of the amount of parent isotope left in the rock?

a Nearly 100 percent

b 50 percent

c 25 percent

d Less than 10 percent

Brainliest for the correct answer and 20 pts~!

Question

Physics

Cornelius Hoffman

26 August, 16:06

Samarium has a half-life of approximately 106 billion years. If you found a sample of samarium from the beginning of Earth's history, approximately 4.6 billion years ago, which would be the best approximation of the amount of parent isotope left in the rock?

a Nearly 100 percent

b 50 percent

c 25 percent

d Less than 10 percent

Brainliest for the correct answer and 20 pts~!

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Jaylan Solis · Answer 1

It takes 106 years for half of it to decay, and the sample you found is only 4.6 billion years old. So nearly all of the original is still in your sample.