What is the term used to describe the time it takes for a product to break down?

The term that correctly describes the time it takes for a product to break down is "degradation." This term specifically refers to the process through which a substance deteriorates or breaks down into simpler components, often as a result of chemical reactions or environmental factors. Understanding degradation is crucial in fields like environmental science and waste management, as it helps assess the long-term impact of products on ecosystems and defines how quickly substances may leave the environment.

Other terms such as absorption, persistence, and solubility serve different functions. Absorption deals with how substances penetrate or are taken up by materials, persistence refers to how long a substance remains in the environment without breaking down, and solubility looks at how well a substance dissolves in a solvent. Each of these concepts plays an important role in environmental assessments but does not specifically address the breakdown time of a product.