An underground gas pipe has a leak. A tracer called bromine-82 is injected into the pipeline to locate the leak.
Bromine-82 has a half-life of 36 hours. Give two reasons why this half-life is suitable.
Bromine-82 emits gamma radiation. Explain why this makes bromine-82 a good tracer for underground leaks.
Bromine-82 decays to form a stable isotope. Explain why this is important.
A gamma detector is used on the surface of the ground above the pipe to monitor the tracer. Explain how the location of the leak is found.
A 40 mg40\text{ mg}40 mg mass of bromine-82 is initially injected into the pipeline. The half-life of bromine-82 is 36 hours. Calculate the mass of bromine-82 that remains after 108 hours.