JAMB 1980
The activity of a radioactive substance depends on
A. temperature and purity
B. temperature and age
C. purity and age
D. age, purity and temperature
E. none of the above
Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation
Physical factors like temperature and pressure does not have direct influence on radioactivity, this is because radioactivity involves sub-atomic decay which most times involves the reaction of the nucleus, unlike chemical reactions which involves the exchange or share of external electrons.
Option B is correct because the purity of a substance can influence the rate of nuclear decay, also, the age of this substance can also influence the current rate of decay.
The purity of a substance can influence is rate of nuclear decay, the purer a substance, the clearer the rate of nuclear decay.
As the age of a radioactive substance increases, its nuclear decay rate reduces in order to maintain a constant half-life.
Other options are wrong because they contain temperature, which is an external factors.
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