The half-life of a radioactive isotope is defined as?

The half-life of a radioactive isotope is defined as the time it takes for half of the original amount of atoms in a sample to undergo radioactive decay. This definition is crucial in understanding how radioactive substances behave over time.

For any given radioactive element, the half-life is a consistent measure that reflects the average time it takes for a group of atoms to decay to half of their initial quantity. This concept is fundamental in fields such as nuclear physics, radiometric dating, and medical applications where isotopes are used for diagnosis and treatment.

The term "half-life" specifically indicates that not all atoms will decay at the same time, as radioactive decay follows a statistical distribution. Therefore, when considering a large number of radioactive atoms, after one half-life, about 50% of the original number of atoms will have decayed, while the remaining 50% will still be present, and this pattern continues through each subsequent half-life.

Understanding this definition also clarifies why other statements may not accurately describe the concept. For instance, referring to the time it takes for all atoms to decay does not capture the probabilistic nature of radioactive decay, as some atoms can take much longer than others. Similarly, equating the half-life with a stabilization period or complete decay