Question

If a radioactive material were cut into pieces, what would the half-life of each piece be?

Answer 1

All radioactive decay is 1st order kinetics. Therefore, half-life is constant for whatever the mass size sample.

Explanation:

For 1st order decay process, t(half-life) is mass independent. The general formula for calculating half life (1st order) is ...

`t_(1/2)` = `0.693/k`; k = rate constant for decay

All half-life times for 1st order decay are equal. That can't be said for reactions that are not 1st order., but all radioactive decay is 1st order and therefore has a constant half-life only affected by the isotopic rate constant.