ionizing radiation
Sign in to saveradiation that carries enough energy to liberate electrons from atoms or molecules
AI overview
Ionizing radiation is energy that travels through space and is powerful enough to knock electrons loose from atoms and molecules. It matters because this ability to strip away electrons can damage living cells and DNA, which is why exposure to ionizing radiation poses health risks.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
Ionizing radiation warning symbol Ionizing radiation, also spelled ionising radiation, consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that have enough energy per individual photon or particle to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them. Some particles can travel up to 99% of the speed of light, and the electromagnetic waves are on the high-energy portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Gamma rays, X-rays, and the higher energy ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum are ionizing radiation; whereas the lower energy ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves are non-ionizing radiation. Nearly all types of laser light are non-ionizing radiation. The boundary between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in the ultraviolet area cannot be sharply defined, as different molecules and atoms ionize at different energies. The energy of ionizing radiation starts around 10 electronvolts (eV).