Ionizing Radiation

Atoms are made up of particles like protons and neutrons which stay inside nucleus and electrons which revolve around the nucleus in a fixed path called shell. Each of these shell have capacity to hold only the fixed number of electrons not one more than that and these electrons have fixed number of energy according to their shell number. This energy increases as we go from the shell closest to the nucleus to the farthest. So, shell are also called energy level. As we increase the energy of any electron, the electron shifts from one energy level to next energy level until the nucleus cannot hold the electron and finally the electron gets free.

Traditional Symbol of Ionization Radiation

Ionizing Radiation is the radiation that carries enough energy to free electrons from atoms or molecules, ionizing them. Ionizing radiation is made up of energetic subatomic particles, ions or any form of energy.

Ionization Radiation is both useful and dangerous according to its use and it has become one of the hot topic recently with the increase of industrial revolution, nuclear power plants and radiation therapy. In the past we only knew some advantages of radiation. In recent years, we have discovered what radiation could do that we never even could think about. We have come to know about its disadvantages and threats. Scientists are so much aware about its threat that they even changed the symbol of ionization radiation.

Recently Introduced Symbol of Ionization Radiation

How Ionization Radiation Occurs?

As discussed above, when an electron is provided to an electron deficient ion(cation) it looses some amount of energy to become comparatively stable than before. This energy is released in the form of either heat, light, particle, wave or spectrum. This released energy is known as Ionization Radiation. Similarly, when the same amount of energy is given to the same atom, it releases one electron. Radiation also occurs in any nuclear reaction.

Types of Ionizing Radiation

Alpha Particles (α): They consist of two protons and two neutrons identical to Helium nucleus (+2 charge).

Beta Particles (β): They are the high speed electrons emitted from nucleus(-1 charge).

Gamma rays (γ) : They are the photons emitted from the nucleus. They are charge less.

Effects of Ionizing Radiation

Radiation is effective as a cancer treatment because it can kill the cancer cells. Ionizing radiation has many beneficial applications, including uses in medicine, industry, agriculture and research. Too much of exposure to ionizing radiation causes damage to living tissue, radiation sickness, mutation and even death of living beings.

So, guys what do you conclude about ionization radiation? Was this article helpful? Please let us know in the comment section below.