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Half of a radioactive isotope is an atom that would have half of the atomic number of the radioactive isotope. In the case of radium-88 (88Ra), half of the radioactive isotope would be ruthenium-44 (44Ru). This assumes that the protons do not break down and that none are lost to additional reactions with other elements or compounds. Electrons can be lost along the radioactive chain, resulting in an ion of ruthenium rather than an electrically neutral atom.

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13y ago
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4mo ago

Half of a radioactive isotope refers to the time it takes for half of the original amount of the isotope to decay. This is known as the isotope's half-life. It is a measure of the stability of the isotope, with shorter half-lives indicating more rapid decay.

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Q: What is half of a radioactive isotope?
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How are radioactive isotopes used determine the absolute age of igneous rock?

Answer : When the isotopes decay, scientists can find out how old the rock is depending on the radioactive isotope's half-life. Explanation: Radioactive isotopes are unstable and will decay. For example, when humans die carbon-14 decays. The isotopes will decay into a stable isotope over time. Scientists can tell how old the rock was from looking at the radioactive isotope's half-life, which tells them how long it would take for there to be half the radioactive isotope and half the stable isotope. At the next half-life there will be 25% of the radioactive isotope and 75% of the stable isotope. At the next half life there will be 12.5% radioactive and 87.5% stable. Example: Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a half life of 5,730 years. How old would carbon-14 be when there is 75% carbon-14 in the rock? 75% is half of the time before the half-life, so it would be 2,365 years. Hope this helps. Half life helps scientists find how much the isotope has decayed and the age of the rock.


Can the half life of a radioactive isotope decrease as the isotope decays?

No, the half-life of a radioactive isotope is a constant property of that particular isotope and does not change as it decays. The half-life is defined as the time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay. Once set, the half-life remains constant regardless of how many atoms have decayed.


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

It's called "half life".


What is the disintegration rate of radioactive elements?

It varies from one element to another. It is measured in terms of its half-life. A half-life is the length of time it takes for half the number of radioactive atoms of the element in a lump to decay.


What is it called when it takes an element half the amount of time for a radioactive isotope to decay?

Half-life

Related questions

What is the half life of an isotope?

The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the amount of time it takes for one-half of the radioactive isotope to decay. The half-life of a specific radioactive isotope is constant; it is unaffected by conditions and is independent of the initial amount of that isotope.


What is half life of a isotope?

The half life of an isotope refers to the rate at which a radioactive isotope undergoes radioactive decay. Specifically, it is the amount of time it takes for half of a given sample of a radioactive isotope to decay.


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.


The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down by radioactive decay to form a daughter isotope.?

its called Half-Time...


After three half-lives what percent of the radioactive isotope is remaining?

After three half-lives, 12.5% of the radioactive isotope is remaining. This is because each half-life reduces the amount of radioactive material by half.


How are radioactive isotopes used to determine the absolute age of igneous rock.?

Answer : When the isotopes decay, scientists can find out how old the rock is depending on the radioactive isotope's half-life. Explanation: Radioactive isotopes are unstable and will decay. For example, when humans die carbon-14 decays. The isotopes will decay into a stable isotope over time. Scientists can tell how old the rock was from looking at the radioactive isotope's half-life, which tells them how long it would take for there to be half the radioactive isotope and half the stable isotope. At the next half-life there will be 25% of the radioactive isotope and 75% of the stable isotope. At the next half life there will be 12.5% radioactive and 87.5% stable. Example: Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a half life of 5,730 years. How old would carbon-14 be when there is 75% carbon-14 in the rock? 75% is half of the time before the half-life, so it would be 2,365 years. Hope this helps. Half life helps scientists find how much the isotope has decayed and the age of the rock.


How are radioactive isotopes used determine the absolute age of igneous rock?

Answer : When the isotopes decay, scientists can find out how old the rock is depending on the radioactive isotope's half-life. Explanation: Radioactive isotopes are unstable and will decay. For example, when humans die carbon-14 decays. The isotopes will decay into a stable isotope over time. Scientists can tell how old the rock was from looking at the radioactive isotope's half-life, which tells them how long it would take for there to be half the radioactive isotope and half the stable isotope. At the next half-life there will be 25% of the radioactive isotope and 75% of the stable isotope. At the next half life there will be 12.5% radioactive and 87.5% stable. Example: Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a half life of 5,730 years. How old would carbon-14 be when there is 75% carbon-14 in the rock? 75% is half of the time before the half-life, so it would be 2,365 years. Hope this helps. Half life helps scientists find how much the isotope has decayed and the age of the rock.


Can only a radioactive isotope will have a half-life?

Yes.


Does the half life of a radioactive isotope change?

No. It is a constant.


Can the half life of a radioactive isotope decrease as the isotope decays?

No, the half-life of a radioactive isotope is a constant property of that particular isotope and does not change as it decays. The half-life is defined as the time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay. Once set, the half-life remains constant regardless of how many atoms have decayed.


What property of a radioactive isotope is the length of time it takes half of the nuclei to decay?

This is called the "half-life" of the isotope.


What is meant by half life of radioactive isotopes?

This is the time in which half the the atoms was disintegrated.