A 70 kg human body typically contains 140 g of potassium. Potassium has a chemical atomic mass of 39.1 u and has three naturally occurring isotopes. One of those isotopes, 40K, is radioactive with a half-life of 1.3 billion years and a natural abundance of 0.012%. Each 40K decay deposits, on average, 1.0 MeV of energy into the body. What yearly dose in Gy does the typical person receive from the decay of 40K in the body?

0.03143 Gy

Explanation:

Mass of the human body = 70 kg

Mass of potassium in the human body = 140 g

chemical atomic mass of potassium = 39.1

From avogadros number, we know that 1 atomic mass of an element contains 6.023 × 10^(23) atoms

Thus,

140g of potassium will contain;

(140 × 6.023 × 10^(23))/(39.1) = 2.1566 × 10^(24) atoms

We are told that the natural abundance of one of the 40K isotopes is 0.012%.

Thus;

Number of atoms of this isotope = 0.012% × 6.023 × 10^(23) = 7.2276 × 10^(19) K-40 atoms

Formula for activity of K-40 is given as;

Activity = (0.693 × number of K-40 atoms)/half life

Activity = (0.693 × 7.2276 × 10^(19))/1300000000

Activity = 3.85 × 10^(10)

We are told that each decay deposits 1.0 MeV of energy into the body.

Thus;

Total energy absorbed by the body in a year = 3.85 × 10^(10) × 1 × 365 = 1405.25 × 10^(10) MeV

Now, 1 MeV = 1.602 × 10^(-13) joules

Thus;

Total energy absorbed by the body in a year = 1405.25 × 10^(10) × 1.602 × 10^(-13) = 2.25 J

1 Gy = 1 J/kg

Thus;

Yearly dose = 2.25/70 = 0.03143 Gy