what are radioactive materials and how harmful are they to us ?

Answer 1

There are radioactive isotopes of almost any element, but few of these are found in nature. The natural radioactive elements are uranium 238, uranium 235, and thorium 232, and decay products of these, and also potassium 40. Small amounts of radiation are harmless. Large amounts can be lethal.
Radioactive elements decay mostly by two means:
- Alpha decay, in which the nucleus spits out a helium nucleus, thus reducing its atomic number by 2 and its mass by 4.
- Beta decay, in which the hucleus spits out an electron (or in some cases, a positron), which increases the atomic number by 1 but leaves the mass unchanged.
There is also gamma radiation, in which a nucleus loses energy by emitting a photon, but does not change its mass or charge.

Answer 2

Radioactive materials are the partcals, rays emitted by radioactivity these are very harmful to each of living beings as it can cause cancers of various kinds. Due to different rays emitted they can lead to mitosis of cells and that to unlimited and it can be dangerous to ur skin as skin cancer can happen or some irritation to ur skin raches also some times if u are in direct contact with radioactive materials continuasly then ur bone and eyes can be the victim of radioactive materials

Answer 3

Radioactive materials are those which emits radiactive rays i.e. Alpha, BEta and Gama. These rays are very harmful. These highly energetic rays are capable of causing cellular harms. they can induce cancer and are capable of causing mutation i.e. changes in the structure of genes. Due to which future generations may also have the defect caused by these radioactive rays. This is the reason why pregnant women are not allowed to visit nuclear reactors. The walls of nuclear reactors are of RCC ( very thick) to prevent these rediations from spreading.
Operators who operate X-ray machines in hospitals and radioactive materails in Nuclear reactors are prone to cancer and are often found to be suffering from cancer.

Answer 4

The elements with higher atomic number are less stable and hence they disintegrate to form smaller nuclei and emit different types of radiation. these elements which can give out radiation are called radioactive elements. They occur natuaraly and also can be made artificially (trans uranic elements). The different types of radiations are alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Alpha radiation consists of a doubly charged helium nuclei, beta is nothing but an electron radiation, gamma radiation are photon with high energy and moves at light speed. Alpha radiation can be protected by simple aluminium foil, Beta can be protected by 5cm thick aluminium foil and gamma needs thick Lead sheets for protection. These radiations can cause mutations, killing of living cells etc.

Answer 5

Radioactive particles are bad because:
Alpha particles need two electrons to become helium, and they will steal them from wherever they can.
Beta particles are electrons waiting to ionize unsuspecting atoms.
Gamma particles are neutrons and damage atoms when they collide with the atom's nucleus (which isn't very often, but it is bad when it does), changing the atom into another kind of atom.

Answer 6

Radioactve materials emit radio-active waves-like Ultra-violet and infra red waves-These waves are extremely dangerous for mankind as they tend to burn at very high temperatures and can cause severe burns-especially on the skin.They can also destroy
sensitive tissues and organs of the human body exposed to these waves directly.
Col.Richard Bigben(Rtd)

Answer 7

Radioactive item is an item type containing radioactive chemical elements. It is sometimes the product of a nuclear process, such as nuclear fission, or it is sometimes found in the nature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_contamination
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_decay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_waste

Answer 8

.... they send out to much power that the human being can't live together. It hurts all living things--> Tschernobyl, Hiroshima, Nagasaki

We can't stop it, we have to wait thousands of years till it stops by his own!

Answer 9

http://science.howstuffworks.com/