Step 1: Understanding the first-order reaction.
For a first-order reaction, the half-life is independent of the initial concentration. The relationship between concentration and time is given by:
\[
\ln \left( \frac{[A]_0}{[A]} \right) = kt
\]
Where \( [A]_0 \) is the initial concentration, \( [A] \) is the final concentration, \( k \) is the rate constant, and \( t \) is the time.
Step 2: Applying the formula.
Given that the half-life is 6.0 hours, we can use the equation for a first-order reaction to find the time required for the concentration to decrease from 0.4 M to 0.12 M. The time is found to be 10.42 hours.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B) 10:42 h.