Study for the UCF CHM1020 Concepts in Chemistry Exam. Access flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations. Prepare comprehensively for your final exam!

The concept of radioactive half-life refers to the time it takes for half of the atoms in a radioactive substance to decay. For a given isotope, this half-life is a unique characteristic and is constant regardless of environmental conditions, including temperature. This consistency allows scientists to use half-lives to accurately date materials, such as archaeological finds or geological samples, and makes it possible to predict how long it will take for a certain amount of a radioactive substance to decay.

The assertion that half-life can be increased by heating the isotope is incorrect. Heating does not affect the rate of radioactive decay or alter the half-life of an isotope. The half-life remains a stable property determined by nuclear stability and not by external physical conditions. Hence, the option stating that heating increases half-life is not true.