answersLogoWhite

0

Yes it does. By the time a radon nucleus has decayed to a stable lead nucleus 6 alpha particles have been emitted. These are dangerous to health. For this reason, basements which are in high radon areas should be positively vented to the outside.

Note. care should be taken with decorative granite counter-tops. Some of these cause radon levels in the kitchen which are far above the safe limit.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

How did radon get its name?

Radon gets its name from the Latin word "radon" which means "radiation" or "ray." It was named so because radon is a radioactive gas that emits alpha particles as it decays.


What type of radiation does Radon give off?

Naturally occuring Radon gas decays by alpha particle emission. However, many of the decay chain products have very short half lives, of which some decay by alpha particle emission and others by beta particle emission.


What is the energy and matter released by radon gas that causes health concerns called?

The answer sought here might be ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation comes in a couple of "flavors" as we know it. One is particulate radiation, and it involves a particle of some kind. The other is electromagnetic radiation, and it involves a "ray" or the like. Radon undergoes what is called radioactive or nuclear decay. 222Rn, the isotope of concern with radon, emits an alpha particle to decay. The alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons - a helium nucleus. This particle has very poor penetrating power. A sheet of paper will stop it. But radon is an inert gas, and if a person breathes in radon, even in small quantities, the alpha decay of radon in the lungs exposes soft tissue to terrible biological damage from the alpha particles. What's worse, the radon becomes polonium - another radioactive substance. Radon that is inhaled and undergoes radioactive (alpha) decay in the lungs has 7 more radioactive decays to go before becoming a stable isotope of lead. And each decay event further exposes local (and the same) tissue to heavy biological damage. Radon causes more lung cancer than most individuals know about.


Can you detect radon gas with a geiger counter?

No, a Geiger counter cannot detect radon gas directly. Radon gas is a noble gas and does not emit the type of radiation that a Geiger counter is designed to detect. To measure radon gas levels, specialized devices called radon detectors or radon monitors are used. These devices work by monitoring the radioactive decay products of radon gas in the air.


Natural radiation from radioactive elements consists of?

alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. These emissions can cause ionization of atoms, leading to potential radiation exposure and health risks. Natural sources of radiation include uranium in rocks and radon gas.

Related Questions

How did radon get its name?

Radon gets its name from the Latin word "radon" which means "radiation" or "ray." It was named so because radon is a radioactive gas that emits alpha particles as it decays.


What type of radiation does Radon give off?

Naturally occuring Radon gas decays by alpha particle emission. However, many of the decay chain products have very short half lives, of which some decay by alpha particle emission and others by beta particle emission.


Is radiation gas?

No, radiation is not gas, at least not the nuclear kind. Nuclear radiation is generally divided into two kinds: particulate and electromagnetic. Neither of them is gas. It might be argued that alpha radiation, which is the "release" of an alpha particle from an unstable atomic nucleus, produces a gas. That's because an alpha particle is a pair of protons bound to a pair of neutrons, and this is a helium-4 nucleus. But radiation is not generally considered a gas..answer 2 perhaps you are thinking of Radon, which is a gas, but a different question.


What is the energy and matter released by radon gas that causes health concerns called?

The answer sought here might be ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation comes in a couple of "flavors" as we know it. One is particulate radiation, and it involves a particle of some kind. The other is electromagnetic radiation, and it involves a "ray" or the like. Radon undergoes what is called radioactive or nuclear decay. 222Rn, the isotope of concern with radon, emits an alpha particle to decay. The alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons - a helium nucleus. This particle has very poor penetrating power. A sheet of paper will stop it. But radon is an inert gas, and if a person breathes in radon, even in small quantities, the alpha decay of radon in the lungs exposes soft tissue to terrible biological damage from the alpha particles. What's worse, the radon becomes polonium - another radioactive substance. Radon that is inhaled and undergoes radioactive (alpha) decay in the lungs has 7 more radioactive decays to go before becoming a stable isotope of lead. And each decay event further exposes local (and the same) tissue to heavy biological damage. Radon causes more lung cancer than most individuals know about.


Can you detect radon gas with a geiger counter?

No, a Geiger counter cannot detect radon gas directly. Radon gas is a noble gas and does not emit the type of radiation that a Geiger counter is designed to detect. To measure radon gas levels, specialized devices called radon detectors or radon monitors are used. These devices work by monitoring the radioactive decay products of radon gas in the air.


Natural radiation from radioactive elements consists of?

alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. These emissions can cause ionization of atoms, leading to potential radiation exposure and health risks. Natural sources of radiation include uranium in rocks and radon gas.


What are the causes of radiation pollution?

Radon gas, nuclear power plants


Is breathing in radon gas contamination or irradiation?

Breathing in radon gas exposes you to radiation. Radon gas is a radioactive gas that forms naturally in the environment and can accumulate in enclosed spaces like homes. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon can increase the risk of lung cancer.


When radium emits an alpha particle the resulting nucleus has atomic number?

The result is radon, atomic number 86. 226Ra - alpha particle = 222Rn (radon, a radioactive gas)


What contributes the most to the background radiation absorbed by a person in the US?

The decay of Radon gas.


Why is radon poisonous if it is unreactive?

While radon is chemically unreactive, it emits alpha particles, which are a form of ionizing radiation. When inhaled, these particles can damage lung tissue and increase the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, it is important to monitor and mitigate radon levels in indoor spaces to reduce health risks.


Is radiation a gas?

No, radiation is not a gas. Radiation refers to the emission of energy in the form of waves or particles from a source. Gases are made up of individual atoms or molecules that can move and flow freely.