Why is radioactivity referred to as ionizing radiation?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Ionizing radiation is radiation that is strong enough to create ions. An ion is an atom with an electric charge. In other words, the radiation is strong enough to knock an electron out of the atom.

Answer 3

Ionizing radiation is not necessarily nuclear radiation. To call it so is not quite correct.

Ionizing radiation consists of subatomic particles or waves in the electromagnetic spectrum that have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules. Radioactive sources produce alpha, beta, and gamma particles, and fast neutrons. But some of these can come from non-radioactive sources. and other types of radiations are also ionizing. These include X-rays and ultraviolet light.

Answer 4

Ionizing radiation ionizes atoms. Alpha and beta particles do this because they are charged. Neutrons are not ionized, but when they strike hydrogen atoms, can cause them to go flying off as simple protons, which are beta particles. Neutrons can also be captured by atomic nuclei, and cause them to become radioactive, most usually emitting beta particles when they decay.

Answer 5

That can either be because we mostly hear about ionizing radiation because that is what's used in medicine (MR-, PET - and CT machines) and in other everyday mattes such as preserving spices and checking luggage at the airport.

Or it can be because in alpha or beta radiation electrons and protons are removed or added to the atom, so that the atom gets and wither positive or negative charge and is therefore ionized.

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Ionizing radiation is called ionizing because, when it interacts with matter, it ionizes atoms, adding or subtracting electrons from the electron cloud, changing the excitation level of the cloud. It can break valence bonds between atoms, affecting molecules. That's where its has its greatest biological impact, because ionizing atoms will affect chemistry.

Answer 6

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Not all radiation is ionizing radiation. For example, radiation from a household radiator is not. But some radiation is. Namely anything with relatively high energy photons (UV, X rays etc) or particles (radioactivity) can be damaging because it can knock electrons off atoms, a process given the name ionization.