Question

When the Chernobyl nuclear accident occurred in the former Soviet Union in 1986, radioactive strontium was expelled from the reactor when containment was breached. If your solution also contained strontium, would it interfere with your analysis for Ca? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The Beta decay equation of 90Sr is given as:

3890Sr → 3990Y + -10e

Here, the -10e denotes a negative (-ve) beta particle or an electron.

As 90Sr decays, it forms 90Y or Yttrium-90 which has a half life of 64 hours. The 90Y decay results into a stable substance called Zirconium (Zr).

The β [Beta] particles radiated by 90Y are of a high energy while those emitted by 90Sr are of a moderate energy.

• Radioactive decay almost always involves a Decay Chain or a particular sequence of steps. 90Y is the Decay Product or Daughter Isotope of 90Sr. It means this substance decays and turns into 90Y.
• Its chemical properties are much similar to Calcium (Ca).
• It will not interfer because 1986 to 2016 it means 30 years, but the half life of the 90Sr has the half life of 28.8 years or 907921024 seconds.