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Which element has the shortest-lived stable isotope among common naturally occurring elements?
Quick Answer
Bismuth was long thought to be stable, but its main isotope has an extremely long half-life of about 1.9 × 10^19 years.
The Full Story
Bismuth is famous because its most common isotope, bismuth-209, is radioactive but so long-lived that it was once considered stable. Its half-life is about 1.9 × 10^19 years, far longer than the age of the universe. The element was known since antiquity and later studied in detail by modern chemists. Bismuth is used in low-toxicity alloys, cosmetics, and some medicines.
Key Facts
1.Bismuth-209 half-life: about 1.9 × 10^19 years
2.Symbol: Bi
3.Known since antiquity
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The ‘stable’ element that is actually radioactive"
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