Materials that emit ionizing radiation are called _______ materials.

Materials that emit ionizing radiation are called _______ materials.

• A. Radioactive
• B. Nonradioactive
• C. Organic
• D. Inert

Answer: (A)

Materials that emit ionizing radiation are called radioactive materials. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, and this energy is released when unstable nuclei decay. Because of this inherent emission, such materials are described as radioactive. Nonradioactive materials do not emit ionizing radiation, while terms like organic or inert describe chemistry or reactivity, not radioactivity (though a material could be organic or inert and still be radioactive if it contains radioactive isotopes).

Materials that emit ionizing radiation are called radioactive materials. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, and this energy is released when unstable nuclei decay. Because of this inherent emission, such materials are described as radioactive. Nonradioactive materials do not emit ionizing radiation, while terms like organic or inert describe chemistry or reactivity, not radioactivity (though a material could be organic or inert and still be radioactive if it contains radioactive isotopes).