Radiation Safety Practice Exam

What is the half-life of Nickel-63?

1. 92 years

2. 458 years

3. 12.3 years

4. 8 days

The correct answer is: 92 years

The half-life of Nickel-63 is indeed 92 years. Nickel-63 is a beta-emitting radionuclide that decays into copper-63 through beta decay. The long half-life signifies that it takes approximately 92 years for half of a sample of Nickel-63 to decay. This property makes Nickel-63 useful in various applications, including radiation detection and as a potential energy source in certain types of batteries. Understanding half-lives is crucial in radiation safety as it impacts radiation exposure over time, influencing storage, handling, and disposal guidelines for radioactive materials. In the context of safety practices, knowing the half-life helps in assessing risk and determining how long precautions need to be maintained when working around radioactive elements like Nickel-63.