Why Is Radioactivity Important? Key Concepts and Everyday Applications
Have you ever heard of the news that thousands of Japanese people were affected for generations by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings? And how do their babies and generations carry genetic defects to date? This all was because of the radiation and radioactivity from the various nuclear reactions.
Nowadays, radioactivity is a phenomenon that is used in the treatment of diseases. But it is also identified that this radioactivity has harmful effects on our health. In this article, we will learn about everything related to radioactivity and will also look at facts about radioactivity. So let’s start learning.
Radioactivity
What is Radioactivity?
Radioactivity is a phenomenon that can be found in various elements and different types of matter. As we all know that every kind of matter around us is made up of constituent elements and those elements have atoms in them. Generally, items are stable, which means they do not change randomly with time. On the other hand, atoms that are radioactive in nature are continuously changing with time. These atoms lose their energy out of them naturally. They release energy and various smaller particles out of them in the form of radiation.
Why is Radiation of Radioactive Elements Harmful?
What is Radiation
Radiations coming out of any radioactive element are very harmful to us humans and all living creatures. Exposure to a high level of radiation can have different effects on our body depending on the dose received. Below are listed some harmful effects of these radiations coming out of radioactive elements on our body.
Radiations can cause hair loss, hurt and brain problems and damage to nerve cells, small blood vessels, etc.
Exposure to a high level of radiation can cause mutations in our DNA or genetic information causing genetic diseases that can be transmitted from one generation to another.
Radiations can also cause reproductive problems like infertility or deformities in newly born.
Interesting Facts About Radioactivity
Now as we know that losing something out of the atom to attain stability is called radioactivity. Below are listed some interesting facts about radioactivity.
Radioactive elements change every time they lose their energy or any particle out of them. These elements tend to give particles and radiation out of them until they acquire a stable form. This process of losing out particles from an atom is called decay.
The time in which any element attains stable configuration through decaying can vary from a millisecond to millions of years. The measure of the rate of time that is required to get stable is called half life; it is also referred to as the time that is required for one-half of a group of atoms to decay into a stable form of an atom.
The phenomenon of radioactivity was not known until the late 1800s. In the year 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered a type of radiation and named them X-rays. Various scientists started to work on X-rays to see if there are any other kinds of radiation also.
During this time span scientists like Henry Becquerel and Pierre and Marie Curie intensely studied the phenomenon and discovered other forms of radiation also. Along with radiation they also are credited with the discovery of two major radioactive elements. Later, all three scientists were awarded with a Nobel prize.
Great Scientist Marie Curie
In the year 1899, a scientist named Rutherford experimented with an element called uranium and described three unique types of rays, namely the alpha beta and gamma rays.
Fun Facts About Radioactivity
Below are listed some fun facts about radioactivity:
Radiation has been employed by scientists in a variety of advantageous ways despite its drawbacks. X-rays, healthcare, radiometric dating, energy production, and the destruction of pathogens are a few of these.
Radon gas, which is extremely toxic to people, can be constructed when uranium in the ground deteriorates. It is believed to be the second most standard reason for lung cancer.
Carbon dating uses the half-life of carbon-14 to estimate the age of fossils.
The heaviest element that has at most petite one stable isotope is bismuth. Beyond bismuth, all elements are radioactive.
Summary
To conclude all the learnings from this article we can say that radioactivity is a very useful phenomenon but it has various harmful effects also if not used carefully it can cause various health hazards related to it. In this article, we saw why radiation from radioactive elements can be harmful to us and also looked at the scientist who discovered radioactivity and how they change the world that we live in.
FAQs on Interesting Facts About Radioactivity Every Student Should Know
1. What exactly is radioactivity?
Radioactivity is a natural phenomenon where the unstable nucleus of an atom spontaneously breaks down, or decays. In this process, the nucleus releases energy in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves, known as radiation. This happens because the nucleus is trying to reach a more stable, lower-energy state.
2. Who discovered radioactivity and how?
Radioactivity was discovered by accident in 1896 by French scientist Henri Becquerel. He found that uranium salts could expose a photographic plate even when it was wrapped in dark paper, meaning they were emitting some form of invisible energy. Later, Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre Curie, expanded on this work, coining the term "radioactivity" and discovering other radioactive elements like polonium and radium.
3. What are the main types of radioactive radiation?
The three primary types of radiation emitted during radioactive decay are:
- Alpha (α) radiation: Consists of particles made of two protons and two neutrons (a helium nucleus). They are heavy and have low penetrating power; a sheet of paper can stop them.
- Beta (β) radiation: Consists of high-energy electrons or positrons. They are lighter and more penetrating than alpha particles but can be stopped by a thin sheet of aluminium.
- Gamma (γ) radiation: High-energy electromagnetic waves, similar to X-rays. They have no mass or charge and possess very high penetrating power, requiring thick lead or concrete for shielding.
4. How are alpha, beta, and gamma radiation different from each other?
The key differences between alpha, beta, and gamma radiation lie in their composition, charge, and penetrating ability. Alpha particles are positively charged helium nuclei and are the least penetrating. Beta particles are negatively charged electrons with medium penetrating power. Gamma rays are uncharged electromagnetic energy, making them the most penetrating of the three. Essentially, you can think of them as a heavy particle, a light particle, and pure energy, respectively.
5. What are some important uses of radioactivity in modern life?
Despite its potential dangers, radioactivity has many beneficial applications. In medicine, it is used for diagnosing illnesses with tracers (like in PET scans) and treating cancer through radiotherapy. In industry, it helps in sterilising medical equipment and irradiating food to kill bacteria. It is also the basis for generating electricity in nuclear power plants and for scientific methods like carbon dating.
6. What is the relationship between radioactive decay and the stability of an atom's nucleus?
The stability of an atom's nucleus depends on its balance of protons and neutrons. If this ratio is imbalanced, the nucleus has excess energy and is considered unstable or radioactive. Radioactive decay is the process through which this unstable nucleus releases energy and particles to transform into a more stable configuration. Each decay event moves the atom closer to a state of stability.
7. What are the basic principles to protect oneself from harmful radiation?
The three fundamental principles for radiation safety are based on managing exposure:
- Time: Limit the duration of time spent near a source of radiation.
- Distance: Maximise your distance from the radiation source, as its intensity decreases significantly with distance.
- Shielding: Use an appropriate barrier or shield between you and the source. The type of shield depends on the radiation (e.g., paper for alpha, lead for gamma).
8. Is all radiation harmful? What is the difference between ionising and non-ionising radiation?
No, not all radiation is equally harmful. The key difference is whether it is ionising or non-ionising. Ionising radiation (like alpha, beta, gamma, and X-rays) carries enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms, which can damage DNA and living cells. Non-ionising radiation (like visible light, microwaves, and radio waves) does not have enough energy to do this and is generally considered much less harmful.
9. Why is the isotope carbon-14 used for dating ancient fossils and artefacts?
Carbon-14 is used for dating because it is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is absorbed by all living organisms. When an organism dies, it stops absorbing carbon-14. The C-14 already in its system begins to decay at a predictable, constant rate known as its half-life (approximately 5,730 years). By measuring the amount of C-14 remaining in a fossil or artefact, scientists can calculate how long ago the organism died.
10. Besides nuclear accidents, what are the main environmental concerns related to radioactivity?
The primary environmental concern is the safe disposal of nuclear waste. This waste remains radioactive for thousands of years and must be isolated to prevent contamination of soil, groundwater, and ecosystems. Another concern is the potential for low-level radioactive leaks from mining and processing uranium, which can impact the local environment and water sources over long periods.
