The decay constant for mercury-197,a radioisotope used medically in kidney-scans, is 1.08×10−2h−1. What is the half-life of mercury-197?
The decay constant of 19780Hg (electron capture to 19779Au) is 1.8 ×10−4 S−1. (a) What is the half-life ? (b) What is the average - life ? (c) How much time will it take to convert 25% of this isotope of mercury into gold ?