The half-life of a radioactive element is the time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample of the element to undergo radioactive decay. During this process, unstable atoms lose energy and stability by emitting radiation, such as alpha, beta, or gamma rays.
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Here are some key points about half-life:
1. *Constant rate*: The half-life of a radioactive element is constant and unaffected by external factors, such as temperature, pressure, or the presence of other elements.
2. *Exponential decay*: Radioactive decay occurs exponentially, meaning that the rate of decay decreases over time as the number of unstable atoms decreases.
3. *Unique to each element*: Each radioactive element has its unique half-life, ranging from fractions of a second to billions of years.
4. *Measurement unit*: Half-life is typically measured in units of time, such as seconds (s), minutes (min), hours (h), days (d), or years (y).
5. *Applications*: Understanding half-life is crucial in various fields, including nuclear physics, medicine (e.g., radiation therapy), geology (e.g., radiometric dating), and environmental science (e.g., tracking radioactive waste).
Examples of half-lives:
- Uranium-238 (²³⁸U): approximately 4.5 billion years
- Carbon-14 (¹⁴C): approximately 5,730 years
- Radon-222 (²²²Rn): approximately 3.8 days
- Polonium-210 (²¹⁰Po): approximately 138.4 days
Keep in mind that half-life is a statistical concept, and the actual time it takes for a specific atom to decay can vary significantly.
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