What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope?

What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope?

Step 1: Understand that a radioactive isotope is an unstable atom that can decay over time.
Step 2: Know that decay means the isotope transforms into a different element or a different isotope.
Step 3: The half-life is the specific time it takes for half of a given amount of the radioactive isotope to decay.
Step 4: For example, if you start with 100 grams of a radioactive isotope, after one half-life, you will have 50 grams left.
Step 5: After another half-life, you will have 25 grams left, and this process continues.
Step 6: The half-life is a constant value for each radioactive isotope, meaning it does not change regardless of the amount you start with.

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