Half life

[Riya 14B-2]

Hi!

I was wondering if/when/how the half life of a substance is changed as a result of the external environment?

Thanks :)

[Riya 14B-2]

I think this is particularly interesting to consider when discussing the invention/experimentation of biodegradable materials with aims to limit environmental impact!

[Lily Zello 3I]

What do you mean? Are you referring to temperature, pressure, etc.?

[Riya 14B-2]

yeah exactly

[Ashley Gonzalez Dis 2A]

Hi! I believe the half-life of a substance can be affected by environmental factors such as decay or human intervention. For instance, humans might want to try to get rid of waste so they can use chemicals or other substances to speed up the process.

[Omeed Kalan]

I do not believe the half life can be changed

[Frankie Xu 2H]

A substance's half-life can be impacted by external environmental factors like temperature and pressure by changing its chemical and physical properties. For instance, some substances may deteriorate more quickly at higher temperatures than others. The half-life of a substance can also be impacted by the presence of other chemicals in the environment. When a catalyst is present, for instance, the rate of degradation may increase, whereas an inhibitor's presence may cause the process to be slowed down.