While the half-life can be affected by changes in the motion of atoms due to changes in temperature, the effect is negligible. Half-life is far more drastically affected by forces between particles within the nucleus rather than any atomic motion or atomic interactions. There may be a small decrease in decay rate as temperature decreases but it is negligible thus far. It has been proven that increases in decay rate with temperature are essentially zero.
According to the current standard model of particle interactions the effects of temperature change on decay rate can be ignored at all temperatures.
Yes. A radioactive atom is a radioactive atom. If that atom exists as a single atom and is uncombined and it is radioactive, it's radioactive. If that same atom is chemically combined with another or other atoms, it's still radioactive. It's just that simple.
A radioactive atom is an atom that has an unstable nuclear force, and therefore either absorbs or emits a radioactive particle.
radioactive isotope
In order for an atom of an element that is not radioactive to become radioactive, the isotope has to change. This can happen as a result of neutron capture. Neutron capture can simply change the isotope of an atom, as when cobalt-59, which is not radioactive, captures a neutron to become cobalt-60, which is radioactive. Neutron capture can also result in immediate radioactive decay of the atom struck, even if it is not radioactive. For example helium-3 can capture a neutron to produce two atoms of hydrogen, one of hydrogen-3 and one of hydrogen-1.
It is a radioactive element.
Yes. A radioactive atom is a radioactive atom. If that atom exists as a single atom and is uncombined and it is radioactive, it's radioactive. If that same atom is chemically combined with another or other atoms, it's still radioactive. It's just that simple.
Both processes change the nature of the atom.
You don't really need equipment to change the nucleus of an atom. If the atom is radioactive, then it is inherently unstable, and it will change of its own accord, and on its own time frame, relative to half-life.
An unstable atom is a radioactive atom.
A radioactive atom is an atom that has an unstable nuclear force, and therefore either absorbs or emits a radioactive particle.
Artificial Transmutation
Since radioactive decay occurs in the nucleus of an atom, and temperature mostly has to do with atoms bouncing or vibrating against each other, I'd say that there would be no effect. Maybe if you could get it down close to absolute zero, you might see a change in the behavior inside the nucleus.
A radioactive atom is an atom of an element with an unstable nucleus.
radioactive isotope
No, it's called "radioactive." "Retroactive" is something that's active in regards to the past.
Artificial Transmutation
The usual Carbon-12 is not radioactive. Uranium is radioactive. Radioactive means that the atom splits and spits out some energy or matter (with matter, the atom changes to another atom). Luckily, all the atoms don't split at once.