What Impacts Isotope Half-Life?
Data Story
Compare the half-life and mass number of different elements that occur naturally or not naturally.
Welcome to this Tuva data story! All isotopes are unstable. This is why isotopes change (or "decay") over time into more stable elemental states. Scientists express how quickly an isotope decays by measuring its “half-life," or how long it takes half of a sample of an isotope to decay to a stable state. Knowing the half-life of an element, along with its other properties, helps scientists better understand how an element will react in the world. This data story explores the half-life and mass number of 34 different isotopes of 27 elements (Beryllium, Curium, Caesium, Dysprosium, Gadolinium, Hafnium, Iodine, Potassium, and others). In this data story, you will compare half-life and mass number of elements that do and do not occur naturally. Click Next to get started!
Topics and standards: Science, Elements, Physical Science, Half-Life, Isotopes, Radioactivity, PS1.C, Patterns, Grades 9-12, Grades 6-8, HS-ESS1-6, HS-PS1-8, Identify-Interpret Patterns, Matter & Its Interactions, SPS1.A, TEKS Science CHEM.14.A, TEKS Science CHEM.14.B, TEKS Science CHEM.14.C, TEKS Science EARTH.7.A, TEKS Science IPC.8.C, 8-PS1-2, CHEM1-PS1-17, CHEM1-PS1-18, 3.2.9-12.H, 3.3.9-12.G