The half-life of uranium-238 is about 4.5 billion years, uranium-235 about 700 million years, and uranium-234 about 25 thousand years.

What is the estimated half-life for u 238?

4.5 billion years The half-life of uranium-238 is 4.5 billion years. It decays into radium-226, which in turn decays into radon-222.

What does U 238 decay into?

For example, the decay chain that begins with Uranium-238 culminates in Lead-206, after forming intermediates such as Uranium-234, Thorium-230, Radium-226, and Radon-222. Also called the decay series.. Each series has its own unique decay chain. The decay products within the chain are always radioactive.

What is the half-life of U 238 under extremely high pressure?

The half-life of uranium-238 is about 4.47 billion years and that of uranium-235 is 704 million years, making them useful in dating the age of the Earth.

What is the normal half-life of U 235?

Uranium-235 has a half-life of 703.8 million years.

Why is U-235 better than u-238?

U- 235 is a fissile isotope, meaning that it can split into smaller molecules when a lower-energy neutron is fired at it. U- 238 has an even mass, and odd nuclei are more fissile because the extra neutron adds energy - more than what is required to fission the resulting nucleus.

Which is more radioactive and why U-235 or U-238?

Natural uranium contains 0.7% of the U-235 isotope. The nucleus of the U-235 atom contains 92 protons and 143 neutrons, giving an atomic mass of 235 units. The U-238 nucleus also has 92 protons but has 146 neutrons – three more than U-235 – and therefore has a mass of 238 units.

Why is nuclear energy bad?

Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste A major environmental concern related to nuclear power is the creation of radioactive wastes such as uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes. These materials can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years.