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I would consider it safe after 5 half-lives. by 5 it has decayed to 3% of original level, by 10 it has decayed to 0.1% of original level.

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Q: Why is radioactive waste considered safe after 10 half lives?
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Does Nuclear fission as used in nuclear power plants produces radioactive waste with long half lives?

yes, Nuclear fission as used in nuclear power plants produces radioactive waste with long half lives. However, this creates no problems. This wastes are either confined in the spent nuclear fuel (that is stored either in wet storage or in dry storage facilities) or stored as vitrified nuclear waste.


What kind of radioactive waste has the longest half-life?

Uranium has the longest half-life element


What is the biggest with radioactive waste?

The biggest problem with radioactive waste is how to safely and properly dispose of it. Finding suitable disposal facilities for radioactive waste is difficult. Depending on the type of waste disposed, the disposal facility may need to contain radiation for a very long time.


How do radioisotopes of an element differ feom other isotopes?

Radioisotopes are "radioactive isotopes"; they are not stable. Radioactive atoms will decay, or break apart into other atoms, by emitting an electron, or a neutron or a positron or an alpha particle (2 protons and two neutrons). The rate at which this happens is measured by the "half-life"; after one half-life, half of the atoms will have decayed. After another half-life, half of the remaining atoms will have decayed. Atoms with short half-lives are highly radioactive, and can be fairly dangerous. Atoms with long half-lives are only slightly radioactive, and aren't all that dangerous.


What is the biggest problem with radioactive waste?

It has a very long half-life. Disposal of radioactive waste is the biggest problem. Proper disposal is essential to ensure protection of the health and safety of the public and quality of the environment including air, soil, and water supplies.

Related questions

Does Nuclear fission as used in nuclear power plants produces radioactive waste with long half lives?

yes, Nuclear fission as used in nuclear power plants produces radioactive waste with long half lives. However, this creates no problems. This wastes are either confined in the spent nuclear fuel (that is stored either in wet storage or in dry storage facilities) or stored as vitrified nuclear waste.


According to other half lives what did waste water in sinks do?

The waste water in sinks typically contained radium-226, a radioactive element with a half-life of about 1,600 years. Over time, half of the radium-226 in the waste water would decay into radon gas, emitting radiation that can pose health risks. Proper disposal and treatment of waste water is crucial to minimize exposure to radioactive contaminants.


What kind of radioactive waste has the longest half-life?

Uranium has the longest half-life element


Which statement is true about half-lives a Different atoms of the same element have different half-lives. b Each radioactive isotope has its own half-life. c All radioactive nuclides of an element?

The correct answer is: Half-lives are not affected by temperature.


What is the problem with disposing of radioactive wastes is that they have a long what?

Radioactive substances have half-lives. This is because the isotope constantly is changing from the radioactive isotope to a daughter element. For example, eventually, when uranium's radioactivity is gone, it becomes lead. After one half life of a radioactive substance, only 50% of that substance is still radioactive. Therefore, after one half-life, a piece of uranium is 50% lead and therefore %50 less radioactive. After another half-life, it has 25% of the original radioactivity, and 75% of the original uranium has become lead. This is the problem with radioactive wastes. It takes many years just for one half lives for some substances, such as uranium. Because radioactivity is harmful, those substances have to be stored until they are no longer radioactive. So, in short, the problem with disposing of radioactive wastes is that they have long half-lives. (although this is not true with ALL substances because some have short half-lives, but, in general, radioactive substances have long half-lives.


What percentage of a radioactive sample remains after 5 half-lives?

3.1 %


How does half life of radioactive waste affect the type of container in which the waste will be stored?

The longer the half-life of radioactive waste, the more consideration will have to be given to the design and construction of the container in which it is stored. This as well as where the container itself is stored. If we look at spent fuel from nuclear reactors, this highly radioactive and extremely long-lived radioactive waste will have to have a most substantial container. The storage container will have to last for many hundreds of years. Low level radioactive waste can be put up in less substantial containers and simply buried in an approved manner at an approved facility.


What is neon's radioactivity including half-lives?

Neon is usually not radioactive in its natural state but does have several radioactive synthetic isotopes. It has a half-life of 38 seconds.


Which statement is true about half-lives?

A. Different atoms of the same nuclide have different half-lives.B. each radioactive nuclide has its own half-life.C. All radioactive nuclides of an element have the same half-life.D. All radioactive nuclides have the same half-life.


What is the biggest with radioactive waste?

The biggest problem with radioactive waste is how to safely and properly dispose of it. Finding suitable disposal facilities for radioactive waste is difficult. Depending on the type of waste disposed, the disposal facility may need to contain radiation for a very long time.


Knowing the half lives of radioactive materials is helpful in?

creating fusion bombs


What is the percentage of radioactive nuclei left after 3 half-lives have passed?

12.5%