Glossary R

The Environmental Glossary. Letter R +++ Popular Articles: 'Range', 'Regulatory Compliance', 'Risk'

A radioactive waste is the Byproduct of nuclear reactions that gives off (usually harmful) radiation.

A radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of matter or energy from the nucleus of an unstable atom (the emitted matter or energy is usually in the form of alpha or beta particles, gamma rays, or neutrons).

Deutsch: Radionuklid / Español: Radioisótopo / Português: Radioisótopo / Français: Radioisotope / Italiano: Radionuclide

A radioisotope in the environmental context refers to a radioactive isotope of an element that naturally occurs or is artificially produced. These isotopes undergo radioactive decay, emitting radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. Radioisotopes have both beneficial and potentially harmful impacts on the environment and human health. They are used in a wide range of applications, including medical treatments, power generation, and as tracers in environmental and geological research to study processes such as water movement, soil erosion, and the age of geological formations.

A Radiometer is an instrument for detecting and measuring the intensity of the sun's energy in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Deutsch: Radiometrische Datierung / Español: datación radiométrica / Português: datação radiométrica / Français: datation radiométrique / Italiano: datazione radiometrica

Radiometric dating in the environmental context is a technique used to date materials such as rocks, carbon, and other geological features based on the decay rate of radioactive isotopes. This method provides critical information about the age of geological formations and has profound implications for understanding the history of the Earth, including its climate, geological events, and the development of life.

A Radionuclide is an unstable form of a Chemical Element that radioactively decays, resulting in the emission of nuclear radiation.

radionuclides are "Versions" of chemical elements that are not stable, or in other words, are susceptible to undergoing radioactive decay.

Radon (Rn) is a cancer-causing radioactive gas found in many communities' ground water. Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring, radioactive, inert, gaseous element formed by radioactive decay of radium (Ra) atoms.

A RADON (Rn)5 AND RADON DECAY PRODUCTS is Radon is a radioactive gas formed in the Decay of uranium. The radon Decay Products (also called radon daughters or progeny) can be breathed

A Radon chamber is an airtight enclosure in which operators can induce and control different levels of radon gas and radon decay products.