answersLogoWhite

0

Radioactivity occurs with the breakdown r decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei. This nuclear radiation is dangerous because it has a lot of energy-on the order of millions of electron volts per emitted particle. Because chemical bonds take about 3-4 electron volts to break, this energy is enough to break apart ordinarily stable molecules into smaller, highly reactive fragments-most of which are ions. Thus, nuclear radiation gets the name ionizing radiation.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What is a radioactivity substances?

Substances that emit ionizing radiation


What are measurements of radioactivity referred to as?

Roentgen:A unit of radiation exposure equal to the quantity of ionizing radiation that will produce one electrostatic unit of electricity in one cubic centimeter of dry air at 0°C and standard atmospheric pressure.[After Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen.]


What does Ionizing radiation consists of?

The second number given with a hazard class is referred to as?


Why is radioactivity hazardous?

Radioactivity is hazardous because it emits ionizing radiation that can damage living cells and tissues, leading to health problems such as cancer, genetic mutations, and radiation sickness. Exposure to high levels of radioactivity can have serious and long-lasting effects on humans and the environment.


Radiation measured in emissions is called what?

Radiation measured in emissions is referred to as radioactivity, specifically in terms of the amount of ionizing radiation emitted by a radioactive source. This is usually measured in units such as becquerels (Bq) or curies (Ci), which indicate the rate of radioactive decay.


Name the instrument used to detect radioactivity?

Geiger Counter *********Contributed by Czar Acumen**********************


Can a geiger counter detect radioactivity?

Yes, a Geiger counter can detect radioactivity. It measures ionizing radiation such as alpha, beta, and gamma rays by detecting the electric charge produced from ionization of the gas inside the device when radiation passes through it.


Why is radiation referred to as ionizing radiation?

Radioactivity occurs with the breakdown r decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei. This nuclear radiation is dangerous because it has a lot of energy-on the order of millions of electron volts per emitted particle. Because chemical bonds take about 3-4 electron volts to break, this energy is enough to break apart ordinarily stable molecules into smaller, highly reactive fragments-most of which are ions. Thus, nuclear radiation gets the name ionizing radiation.


Alpha is it ionizing?

Yes, alpha radiation is an ionizing radiation.


How does radioactivity spread cancer?

There is no doubt that ionizing radiation can and does cause cancer in humans. Radioactive atoms produce ionizing radiation when they decay and most carcinogens contain some radioactive atoms. This paper presents the case that many cancers are ultimately caused by the ionizing radiation resulting from radioactive decay. This proposition is supported by the observation that the histology of cancers known to be caused by radiation are indistinguishable from the histology of cancers currently not considered to be related to radiation.


Would you classify radiation as ionizing radiation?

Yes, radiation can be classified as either ionizing or non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, leading to the formation of ions. Examples of ionizing radiation include X-rays, gamma rays, and certain types of nuclear radiation.


What are some of the health risks of radioactivity?

Depending on the amount and duration of exposure, exposure to ionizing radiation carries with it risk of:radiation burnshair loss"radiation sickness"cancerreduced life spangenetic damage