Question

1. Two samples of a radioisotope were spilled in a nuclear laboratory. The activity of one sample was 8 kBq and that of the other was 17 mCi .

Convert 17 mCi to kilobecquerels so that you can directly compare the activity of each sample.

Express your answer using two significant figures.

Answer 1

1 Ci = 3.7$\small \times$ 10¹⁰ Bq

1mCi = 10^-3 Ci

1 Bq = 10^-3 KBq

so,

17 mCi = 17 (mci) $\small \times$_{$\small \frac{10^{-3} (Ci)}{1 (mCi)}$}  $\small \times$  $\small \frac{3.7\times 10^{10} (Bq)}{1 (Ci)}$$\small \times$$\small \frac{10^{-3} (KBq)}{1 (Bq)}$

= 17 $\small \times$ 10^-3$\small \times$ 3.7 $\small \times$ 10¹⁰$\small \times$ 10^-3 KBq

= 629000 KBq

= 6.3 $\small \times$10⁵ KBq ( 2 significant figure)