What is Half-Life? (Chemistry)

You are here:

Home
Science
What is Half-Life? (Chemistry)

Period after which only half of the original number of nuclei in a sample of a radioactive element have not decayed.

ex. half-life for uranium – 238 ²³⁸₉₂U

= 4.6 x 10⁹ years

So after 4.6 x 10⁹ years, only one half of the original uranium will be left

Physical Chemistry: Equations and Important Facts

William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing.

Sample Chemistry Unit Test

Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

ATTENTION: Help us feed and clothe children with your old homework! We pay $$$ and it takes seconds!Earn Money

+

img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important;}.wp-block-audio :where(figcaption){color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center;}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-audio :where(figcaption){color:rgba(255,255,255,.65);}.wp-block-audio{margin:0 0 1em;}.wp-block-embed :where(figcaption){color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center;}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-embed :where(figcaption){color:rgba(255,255,255,.65);}.wp-block-embed{margin:0 0 1em;}.blocks-gallery-caption{color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center;}.is-dark-theme .blocks-gallery-caption{color:rgba(255,255,255,.65);}:root :where(.wp-block-image figcaption){color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center;}.is-dark-theme :root :where(.wp-block-image figcaption){color:rgba(255,255,255,.65);}.wp-block-image{margin:0 0 1em;}.wp-block-pullquote{border-bottom:4px solid;border-top:4px solid;color:currentColor;margin-bottom:1.75em;}.wp-block-pullquote cite,.wp-block-pullquote footer,.wp-block-pullquote__citation{color:currentColor;font-size:.8125em;font-style:normal;text-transform:uppercase;}.wp-block-quote{border-left:.25em solid;margin:0 0 1.75em;padding-left:1em;}.wp-block-quote cite,.wp-block-quote footer{color:currentColor;font-size:.8125em;font-style:normal;position:relative;}.wp-block-quote.has-text-align-right{border-left:none;border-right:.25em solid;padding-left:0;padding-right:1em;}.wp-block-quote.has-text-align-center{border:none;padding-left:0;}.wp-block-quote.is-large,.wp-block-quote.is-style-large,.wp-block-quote.is-style-plain{border:none;}.wp-block-search .wp-block-search__label{font-weight:700;}.wp-block-search__button{border:1px solid #ccc;padding:.375em .625em;}.wp-block-separator.has-css-opacity{opacity:.4;}.wp-block-separator{border:none;border-bottom:2px solid;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.wp-block-separator.has-alpha-channel-opacity{opacity:1;}.wp-block-separator:not(.is-style-wide):not(.is-style-dots){width:100px;}.wp-block-separator.has-background:not(.is-style-dots){border-bottom:none;height:1px;}.wp-block-separator.has-background:not(.is-style-wide):not(.is-style-dots){height:2px;}.wp-block-table{margin:0 0 1em;}.wp-block-table td,.wp-block-table th{word-break:normal;}.wp-block-table :where(figcaption){color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center;}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-table :where(figcaption){color:rgba(255,255,255,.65);}.wp-block-video :where(figcaption){color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center;}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-video :where(figcaption){color:rgba(255,255,255,.65);}.wp-block-video{margin:0 0 1em;}:root :where(.wp-block-template-part.has-background){margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding:1.25em 2.375em;}.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em;}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*,div){margin:0;}body .is-layout-grid{display:grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*,div){margin:0;}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}:root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6;}.homepage-heading h1{display:none;}blockquote:not(.shortcode-blockquote):not(.elementor-blockquote),blockquote.shortcode-blockquote.block-style-widget,.block-style-widget{background:#fff;}.ph-wrap{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;}#wpdcom{width:100%;}.layzr-loading-on .iso-lazy-load{opacity:1 !important;}.category-386 .layzr-loading-on .iso-lazy-load{opacity:1 !important;}.avatar-lazy-load-wrap{position:relative;}.avatar-lazy-load-wrap{background:url("https://cdn-dbfal.nitrocdn.com/ZlvclIhMnHVdvEWpFRpwOIHQoHXzSxWZ/assets/images/optimized/rev-a90f610/i1.wp.com/schoolworkhelper.net/wp-content/themes/dt-the7/images/eb455e2281c9d2adcc1cafaafbeeca6d.mask.png");border-radius:50%;}.rp4wp-related-posts ul>li>p{margin:0;padding:0;}.rp4wp-related-post-image{width:35%;padding-right:25px;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;float:left;}.recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 !important;}.yarpp-thumbnails-horizontal .yarpp-thumbnail-title{max-height:none !important;}.yarpp-thumbnail{height:auto !important;}.floater{width:300px;height:500px;float:left;padding-bottom:125px;}body.mediavine-video__has-sticky .scroll-top,body.mediavine-video__has-sticky #chatbot-chat{bottom:300px !important;}body.adhesion:not(.mediavine-video__has-sticky) .scroll-top,body.adhesion:not(.mediavine-video__has-sticky) #chatbot-chat{bottom:120px !important;}.IRPP_button:hover,.IRPP_button:active{border:0 !important;}.IRPP_button{transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms;}.IRPP_button:active,.IRPP_button:hover{opacity:1;transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms;}.IRPP_button .ctaText{border-bottom:0 solid #fff;color:#fff;font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:.125em;margin:0;padding:0;}.IRPP_button:hover .ctaButton{background:#3498db;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header .author-job-title{margin-left:12px;padding-left:12px;font-size:18px;border-left:1px solid gray;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main > p:last-of-type{display:inline;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link{display:inline-flex;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link a{display:flex;align-items:center;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link a svg{fill:black;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-expertises{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-expertises .author-expertise{padding:4px 8px;font-size:14px;border-radius:4px;background-color:#dcdde1;color:inherit;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials{margin-top:12px;display:flex;gap:6px;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials .aioseo-social-icon-tumblrUrl{margin-left:-2px;}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-site-editor-disclaimer{color:black;margin-bottom:12px;font-style:italic;}.IRPP_button:hover,.IRPP_button:active{border:0 !important;}.IRPP_button{transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms;}.IRPP_button:active,.IRPP_button:hover{opacity:1;transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms;}.IRPP_button .ctaText{border-bottom:0 solid #fff;color:#fff;font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:.125em;margin:0;padding:0;}.IRPP_button:hover .ctaButton{background:#3498db;}.mtsnb a:hover{color:#fff500;}