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What effect does nuclear radiation have on atoms?

Answer 1

Nuclear radiation (i.e. the radiation produced by unstable nuclei) can unstabilize the atom, depending on its properties.

In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium.

The majority of radiations emitted by nuclei are ionizing: they are a high-energy density radiation, e.g. plutonium. It means that they can create a chain reaction on materials. Maybe the best example are living tissues, that has their structures degradated by radiation.

Thus, the effect of nuclear radiation on atoms is either unstabilizing the nucleon or their electron cloud, for example in elements used on lamps, fluorescent lamps.

Nuclear transmutation

"Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one chemical element or an isotope into another. A transmutation can be achieved either by nuclear reactions (in which an outside particle reacts with a nucleus) or by radioactive decay (where no outside particle is needed)."

See

Radiation
Nuclear fission
Plutonium
Nuclear transmutation

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Answer 2

Caleb Adams

Nuclear radiation can ionize atoms, causing them to lose or gain electrons and become charged ions. This can disrupt chemical bonds and alter the properties of the atom. Additionally, nuclear radiation can cause mutations in the DNA of living cells, leading to various health effects, including cancer and genetic disorders.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.