Question: The air in some caves includes a significant amount of radon gas, which can lead to lung cancer if breathed over a prolonged time. In

The air in some caves includes a significant amount of radon gas, which can lead to lung cancer if breathed over a prolonged time. In British caves, the air in the cave with the greatest amount of the gas has an activity per volume of 1.55 x 105 Bq/m3. Suppose that you spend two full days exploring (and sleeping in) that cave. Approximately how many 222Rn atoms would you take in and out of your lungs during your two-day stay? The radionuclide 222Rn radon gas has a half-life of 3.82 days. You need to estimate your lung capacity and average breathing rate.

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We note that 382 days is 330048 s and that a becquerel is a disintegration per sec... View full answer

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