Beware! Radiation! Basic concepts, units of measurement, impact on humans..
Beware! Radiation! Basic concepts, units of measurement, impact on humans.
A guide for citizens
V. KHIZHNYAK
The publication was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Regional Ecological Center.
CAUTION! RADIATION: Project Manager V. I. Mikheev, Author V. G. Khizhnyak. — Krasnoyarsk, Citizens' Center for Nuclear Non-Proliferation, 2003. — 32 pp. Ill.: 19.
CAUTION! RADIATION! Basic concepts, units of measurement, impact on humans.
This publication provides basic information on issues related to the concepts of radiation, radioactive decay, atomic energy, ionizing radiation, dose, etc. in a popular and accessible form. The manual is intended primarily for schoolchildren, students, beginning ecologists, as well as for all those who have decided to get a little closer acquainted with these concepts.
We understand that for many readers the information provided has long been familiar, some information will seem outdated, controversial or not entirely correct — from their point of view. We rely on our knowledge and express our point of view. We will be glad if the brochure proves useful and serves as a reference guide when answering questions from teachers, lecturers, when writing essays, etc. You will find more detailed information on nuclear topics on the website http://NuclearNo.ru
Author: Vitaly Khizhnyak Artist: Anatoly Samarin Layout and layout: Alexander Gryzlov
© Citizens' Center for Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Krasnoyarsk © Krasnoyarsk Regional Environmental Movement
ISBN 95-88587-003-23
CONTENTS
Radiation: basic concepts, units of measurement, impact on humans
Radioactivity: radioactive decay, fission of atomic nuclei
Radioactive decay
Alpha decay
Beta decay
Other types of radioactive decay
Basic characteristics of radioactive decay
Basic characteristics of ionizing radiation. Penetrating power of radiation
Penetrating power of b-particles
Attenuation factor of n- and g-radiation
Nuclear fission
Where do radionuclides come from
Measurement of ionizing radiation. Definitions
Basic units of measurement of ionizing radiation
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As is known, each atom consists of a nucleus and electrons moving around it. The nucleus consists of positively charged particles — protons and uncharged (neutral particles) — neutrons. As many protons as there are in the nucleus, so many electrons move (rotate) around the nucleus. The element's number in the periodic table is equal to this number. The chemical properties of an atom of a given chemical element are determined by the number of protons in the nucleus and, accordingly, the number of electrons. The number of neutrons does not affect the chemical properties and can be different. Therefore, atoms of the same chemical element can have different weights: the number of protons is the same, but the number of neutrons is different. Such types of atoms are called isotopes. Atoms (elements, isotopes) whose nuclei are subject to radioactive decay or other radioactive transformations are called radioactive. The terms radioactive atoms (elements, isotopes), radionuclides, radioisotopes are synonyms. Isotopes are varieties of atoms of the same chemical element, differing only in the number of neutrons in the nucleus and therefore their weight. Even the very first atom in the periodic table and the lightest one — hydrogen, in the nucleus of which there is only one proton (and one electron revolves around it), has three isotopes. The first is ordinary hydrogen, or protium, the nucleus of which consists only of a proton; its atomic weight is one, chemical symbol H (or H-1). The second is deuterium, or heavy hydrogen, the nucleus of which consists of one proton and one neutron; atomic weight is two, chemical symbol D (or H-2). And tritium, in the nucleus of which there is one proton and two neutrons; atomic weight is three, chemical symbol T (or H-3). The first two isotopes are stable, the third is tritium — radioactive. The overwhelming majority of natural (originally existing and existing in nature) isotopes are stable. But there are also radioactive ones. These are natural radionuclides (NRN). There are not very many of them. In addition to radioactive isotopes, there are also radioactive elements. These are those that do not have stable isotopes at all — all isotopes are radioactive. These are natural elements: uranium, thorium and the products of their transformations (decay) — radium, radon, polonium and some others, up to and including thallium. And among artificial isotopes and elements, there are no stable ones at all. All artificial isotopes and elements are radioactive. These are artificial isotopes of any elements that have long been known and existing in nature, and artificial elements that did not exist in nature before the advent of nuclear power. The latter include, first of all, transuranium elements — actinides, as well as all subsequent elements of the 7th period of the periodic table. |