Question

If you have the same mass and volume of two different radioactive substances, which will be radioactive longer - the one with a larger half-life or the one with the shorter half-life?

a) The one with a larger half-life
b) The one with a shorter half-life
c) Both will remain radioactive for the same amount of time
d) It depends on the specific substance

Answer 1

The radioactive substance with a shorter half-life will be more radioactive for a shorter amount of time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The radioactive substance with a shorter half-life will be more radioactive for a shorter amount of time. The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for half of the nuclei to decay. So, if two substances have the same mass and volume, the one with the shorter half-life will have a higher rate of decay and will therefore be more radioactive for a shorter period.