Question
True or false? It is not possible to predict when a particular atom of a radioactive substance will undergo decay.
Answer
4.7
(187 Votes)
Queen
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
True
Explanation
The statement is true. The decay of a particular atom in a radioactive substance is a random process. While we can predict the average time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay (known as the half-life), it is impossible to predict exactly when a specific atom will decay. This is due to the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, which governs the behavior of atomic and subatomic particles.