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A radioactive sample is constantly decaying. In the period of one half-life, 50% of the radioactive atoms
are expected to decay to their stable fragments. After two half-lives, 75% of the radioactive atoms
have decayed, and 25% of the original quantity remain.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt means that after the specified time, half the atoms will have broken apart - converting into some other kind of atom.
It means that after the specified time, half the atoms will have broken apart - converting into some other kind of atom.
It means that after the specified time, half the atoms will have broken apart - converting into some other kind of atom.
It means that after the specified time, half the atoms will have broken apart - converting into some other kind of atom.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoHalf-life has nothing to do with the safety of radioactive sources, quite the opposite.
The half life is the time it takes 50% of the given atoms in a sample to decay into another element. The shorter the half life, the more changes taking place and the more electrons being radiated into the air. Those electrons pierce living tissue and that's what causes the radioactive harm. Eventually, some atoms will reach a point of stability when they have shed these extra subatomic particles and no longer emit radiation, but even once decayed for the first time, there can be many more radioactive events to come.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoNo. Not only might there be plenty of the substance remaining, but the decay products could be worse that the original substance.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt means that after the specified time, half the atoms will have broken apart - converting into some other kind of atom.
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How long will it take half of a radioactive sample to decay?
The length of time depends on the element and isotope, but the point at which half of the sample has decayed is known as the half-life.
How do you determine the half life of a radioactive substance that has changed through radioactive decay After 40 days the original substance left is is one sixteenth of the original amount?
the halflife is 10 days
What does the half life of a radioisotope represent?
It tells what fraction of a radioactive sample remains after a certain length of time.
What is the longest radioactive halflife?
First, it isn't very accurate to talk about a radioactive "element"; you should talk about radioactive isotopes. Different isotopes of the same element can have very different behavior in this sense. For example, hydrogen-1 and hydrogen-2 are stable, while hydrogen-3 is not (half-life about 19 years).Individual atoms, in a radioactive isotope, will decay at a random moment. The half-life refers to how long it takes for half of the atoms in a given sample to decay (and convert to some other type of isotope).
What happens to a radioactive material over time?
It disintegrates into its daughter nuclei that are much more stabler than the radioactive nuclei. If a sample of radioacictive material is left it will decay into another element over a period of time. Note that complete decay is not possible. A fraction of the original radioactive material will always remain in the sample.
What is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down to form daughter isotopes called?
halflife
How does the length of the half-life of the element correspond to the radioactivity of the element?
The length of time required for half of a sample of radioactive material to decay
Is any isotope of lead is radioactive?
many. one example is lead-214 with a halflife of 26.8 minutes.
How long will it take half of a radioactive sample to decay?
The length of time depends on the element and isotope, but the point at which half of the sample has decayed is known as the half-life.
How would you describe the isotopes of hydrogen?
All atoms of a specific element have the same number of protons in their nucleus, but the number of neutrons in the nucleus may vary these are isotopes of that element.Hydrogen has several possible isotopes, only the first three of these are commonly referred to:hydrogen or protium or hydrogen-1, 1 proton 0 neutrons, stabledeuterium or hydrogen-2, 1 proton 1 neutron, stabletritium or hydrogen-3, 1 proton 2 neutrons, radioactive halflife 12.26 yearshydrogen-4, 1 proton 3 neutrons, radioactive halflife about 139 yoctosecondshydrogen-5, 1 proton 4 neutrons, radioactive halflife about 910 yoctosecondshydrogen-6, 1 proton 5 neutrons, radioactive halflife 290 yoctosecondshydrogen-7, 1 proton 6 neutrons, radioactive halflife 23 yoctosecondsetc.
What must be true for radioactive dating to be possible with a certain sample?
The sample must contain radioactive elements.
Is it true that the half-life of a radioactive isotope decreases as the isotopes decay?
no, halflife is a constant for each isotope's decay process.
What if your cat is radioactive with the same halflife as carbon 14. how many years will it take for three fourths of your cat to degrade?
my grandma
How do you determine the half life of a radioactive substance that has changed through radioactive decay After 40 days the original substance left is is one sixteenth of the original amount?
the halflife is 10 days
How do scientists use the halflife of radioactive isotopes to date rocks and fossils?
The basic idea is to compare the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within a material to the abundance of its decay products; it is known how fast the radioactive isotope decays.
What does the half life of a radioisotope correspond to?
The length of time required for half of a sample of radioactive material to decay
What is the significance of a half life of a radioisotope?
It tells what fraction of a radioactive sample remains after a certain length of time.
