How is the half-life of a radioactive parent isotope defined?
A) the time it takes for half of the parent isotope to decay
B) half the time it takes for the parent isotope to completely decay
C) the time it takes the parent isotope to go through half the decay steps necessary to produce a stable daughter isotope
D) half of the average rate of decay of the parent isotope

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The half-life of a radioactive parent isotope is defined as the time it takes for half of the parent isotope to decay. This is a fundamental property of a specific radioactive isotope and does not depend on external factors such as temperature, pressure, or chemical environment. Half-life is a crucial parameter in radiometric dating and other applications of nuclear science.

How Is the Half-Life of a Radioactive Parent Isotope Defined