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The following formula can be used to calculate half-life (t1/2):

t1/2 = (t ln 1/2)/(ln mf / mi)

t = time that has passed

mf = the final or remaining mass of undecayed sample

mi = the initial or original mass of undecayed sample

(The fraction mf / mi is of course equivalent to the fraction of undecayed sample remaining, in case you are given the fraction remaining rather than specific masses.)

Note: You can also use base-10 logarithms instead of natural logarithms.

The half-lives of radioactive isotopes vary between a tiny fraction of a second, and more than 1015 years.

(see related link to a list of half-lifes)

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Isotope A has half-life of seconds and isotope B has a half-life of millions of years which isotope is more radioactive?

Isotope A is more radioactive because it has a shorter half-life, indicating a faster rate of decay. A shorter half-life means that more of the isotope will undergo radioactive decay in a given time period compared to an isotope with a longer half-life.


What is the characteristic time for the decay of a radioactive isotope?

The characteristic time for the decay of a radioactive isotope is known as its half-life. This is the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.


How long will it take half of a radioactive sample to decay?

The time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay is known as the half-life. Each radioactive element has a unique half-life, which could range from fractions of a second to billions of years. The half-life remains constant regardless of the size of the initial sample.


The time it takes for 50 percent of the nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay to its stable isotope is called?

The time it takes for 50 percent of the nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay to its stable isotope is called the half-life of the radioactive element. It is a characteristic property of each radioactive isotope and can vary greatly among different elements.


What is the term for the element that a radioactive isotope decay into?

The term for the element that a radioactive isotope decays into is called the "daughter product". During radioactive decay, the original isotope transforms into a different element or isotope through a series of decay reactions.

Related Questions

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.


Is any isotope of lead is radioactive?

many. one example is lead-214 with a halflife of 26.8 minutes.


What is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down to form daughter isotopes called?

halflife


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.


How do you compute a halflife?

There is no simple formula to determine the half life of every single radioactive isotope. However, y = A(.5)^t/h, where A=staring amount, t=time, and h= half life, is a general equation that usually works well.


How do you calculate the activity of a radioactive sample?

The activity of a radioactive sample is calculated using the formula: Activity = λ*N, where λ is the decay constant of the isotope and N is the number of radioactive nuclei present in the sample. The unit of activity is becquerel (Bq).


When an isotope is blank it is radioactive?

When an isotope is unstable, it is said to be radioactive.


Is lithium 8 an isotope why?

Yes, but it has a halflife of only 0.86 seconds.


What is the stable isotope that is formed by the breakdown of a radioactive isotope?

The stable isotope formed by the breakdown of a radioactive isotope is called a daughter isotope. This process is known as radioactive decay, where a radioactive isotope transforms into a stable daughter isotope through the emission of particles or energy.


All radioactive nuclides of an element have the same half life?

No, halflife is a bulk statistical property of a quantity of an isotope of an element.Individual nuclei do not have halflives, instead they have a probability of decaying at the current moment of time.


How is radioactive Isotope different from a stable isotope?

The radioactive isotope is disintegrated in time and emit radiations.


How is a radioactive isotope different from a stable isotope?

The radioactive isotope is disintegrated in time and emit radiations.