Question
How much of a radioactive development can become stable in one half-life
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In a radioactive decay process, after one half-life, half of the original amount of a radioactive substance will have decayed into its stable or transformed state, while the other half remains radioactive.
For example, if you start with 100 grams of a radioactive isotope, after one half-life, 50 grams will have decayed, and 50 grams will still be radioactive. The remaining 50 grams may continue to decay in subsequent half-lives, with each half-life reducing the quantity of the radioactive substance by half until it reaches a stable state or becomes negligible.
It's important to note that not all radioactive substances decay into stable isotopes in one half-life; the end products vary depending on the specific decay chain of the isotope.
For example, if you start with 100 grams of a radioactive isotope, after one half-life, 50 grams will have decayed, and 50 grams will still be radioactive. The remaining 50 grams may continue to decay in subsequent half-lives, with each half-life reducing the quantity of the radioactive substance by half until it reaches a stable state or becomes negligible.
It's important to note that not all radioactive substances decay into stable isotopes in one half-life; the end products vary depending on the specific decay chain of the isotope.