Two atoms of an element with a half life of ten years

[Calpalned]

On the other hand, what if we only have two atoms of an element with a half life of ten years. Then after then years, only one atom of that original element remains. What happens next? Is the lone surviving atom immutable?

 

[phinds]

"half life" is a statistical distribution that is applicable to large numbers of atoms. I don't think it's meaningful when you get down to a couple, but no, the remaining atom would decay eventually.

The odds of it decaying in the first 10 years are 50%. If it doesn't decay then, the odds of its decaying in the next 10 years is 50% ... this goes on until it decays so the chances of it lasting more than a few decades are slim