uranium-235 and uranium-238 are two common isotopes of uranium, each with its own half-life. Uranium-235 has a half-life of approximately 704 million years, while uranium-238 has a longer half-life of about 4.47 billion years. This means that after the respective half-lives, half of the original amount of these isotopes will have decayed into other elements.

The concept of half-life is crucial in understanding radioactive decay. It’s not just about uranium; this principle applies to all radioactive substances. For instance, carbon-14, used in archaeology for dating ancient artifacts, has a much shorter half-life of around 5,730 years. The longer the half-life, the more stable the isotope tends to be.

Uranium’s long half-life makes it significant for both energy production and environmental concerns. In nuclear power plants, uranium is used to generate electricity through controlled chain reactions. However, the disposal of radioactive waste remains a pressing issue due to its longevity and potential hazards.

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