Answer to Question #217835 in General Chemistry for Kaedy1

Question

Given the half life of U-238 is 4.5 X 109 years (4.5 billion), what how long until the original amount is essentially depleted?

Answer 1

Half-life is a measure of the time it takes for one half of a particular radionuclide to disintegrate into another nuclear form.

Uranium atoms decay into other atoms, or radionuclides, that are also radioactive and commonly referred to as "decay products." Uranium and its decay products emit alpha radiation primarily, however, lower levels of both beta and gamma radiation are also emitted.

The isotopes decay at a constant rate, that is often grater than 100 million years.