Half-life, denoted by 't₁/₂', is the time required for half of the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay.
It is a key measure of the stability of a radioactive isotope.
Radioactive Decay:
When a radioactive nucleus decays, it transforms into another element or isotope, emitting ionizing radiation.
Decay is a random process, and the half-life provides a statistical measure of the decay rate.
Constant Nature:
The half-life of a radioactive isotope is constant and is not affected by external factors such as the amount of substance, temperature, or pressure.
Decay Process:
After each half-life, the number of radioactive nuclei in the sample is reduced by half.
For example, if a sample has 1,000 radioactive atoms with a half-life of 1 hour, it will have:
Approximately 500 atoms remaining after 1 hour.
Approximately 250 atoms remaining after 2 hours, and so on.