The half-life of nicotine in the body is 2 hours. What is the hourly decay rate?

Question

Round your answer to three decimal places.

 

The hourly decay rate is _____%

Answer 1

T = half-life = 2 hrs

 

1/2 = (1)a²

 

a = √(1/2) ≅ 0.70711

 

Amount remaining as a function of time given an initial amount A₀ and t in hours is

 

A(t) = A₀(0.70711)^t

 

This means that after each hour, you are left with 0.70711 times the amount at the start of the hour, which is 70.711%.  Therefore, each hour it decays by (100 - 70.711)% = 29.289%.

 

Hourly decay rate is 29.289%