I"m confused.
2006-12-01 14:28:16 · 4 answers · asked by texascomet 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If you're talking about the Russian spy poisoning issue, you're right that they didn't put radiation per se into the guy's drink. They spiked his drink with a radioactive element (Polonium-210, IIRC).
2006-12-01 14:36:17 · answer #1 · answered by bgdddymtty 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Think of salt...we can add salt to a drink. A radioactive chemical can exist as a salt or in other forms (gas. liquid or solid). We regularly use iodine to test the function of the thyroid gland...it is given as a radioactive liquid.
Radioactivity means that the material is releasing energy in the form of Alpha, Beta and Gamma Rays and by using nuclear reactors, we can create matter that is able to release that energy. How long that material produces energy is known as the life...or more commonly as the half-life (where half of its energy is used). Radiation is used in many ways...to sterilize foods, medical tests, X-Rays, Cancer treatment. etc. The half-life of many radioactive chemicals is short...nanoseconds( a billionth of one second), minutes, days, but in some cases it may continue for thousands of years. So could someone put a radioactive chemical in a drink? Yes. However, it is likely that some of the milk you drink already has a tiny amount of radiation. From nuclear accidents, etc. Radioactive strontium and other such radioactive chemicals are taken into the air, brought to earth by rains and picked up by plants, eaten by cows and included in the milk.
2006-12-01 22:49:13 · answer #2 · answered by Frank 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You put radioactive MATERIALS into someone's drink, and they are swallowed and give off radiation inside the person.
2 DEC 06, 0340 hrs, GMT.
2006-12-01 22:36:14 · answer #3 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
polonium dissolves in acids
2006-12-01 22:41:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋