Headings Radioactivity Search
Questions 
gcsescience.com 12 gcsescience.com
Ionising Ability.
All types of radioactivity form ions. They are called "ionising radiation".
When a-particles, b-particles or g-rays collide with a material
they can knock an electron off an atom
in the material and form an
ion.
An ion is any
atom that has lost or
gained electrons.
An ion will always have a charge
(positive if it has lost electrons, negative if it has gained electrons).
For further information on atoms and
ions, see the GCSE Chemistry
site.
The ability of radioactivity
to form ions depends on its mass.
Ionising ability is therefore
related to penetrating
ability.
a-particles are the most
ionising, g-rays are the
least ionising.
Radioactivity can be detected because it
forms ions.
A smoke
detector works because
ions are formed around a radioactive source.
Headings Radioactivity Search
Questions
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