Answer to Question #49457 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for Karn

Question

Radioactive isotopes used in cancer therapy have a "shelf- life," like pharmaceuticals used in chemotherapy. Just after it has been manufactured in a nuclear reactor, the activity of a sample of 60co is 5000 Ci. When its activity falls below 3500 Ci, it is considered too weak a source to use in treatment. You work in the radiology department of a large hospital. One of these 60co sources in your inventory was manufactured on October 6, 2004. It is now April 6, 2007. Is the source still usable? The half-life of 60co is 5.271 years.
a) What is the mass of the source when it was manufactured?
b) Is this source still useable?