Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry (pronunciation: /ˌreɪdioʊˈkɛmɪstri/) is a branch of chemistry that is concerned with the study of radioactive substances and their reactions, transformations, and properties.
Etymology
The term "radiochemistry" is derived from the word "radio-" which comes from the Latin radius meaning "ray", and "-chemistry" which is derived from the Greek khēmeía meaning "art of transmuting metals".
Definition
Radiochemistry involves the study of the chemical effects resulting from the absorption of radiation within living animals, plants, and other materials. The field encompasses the study of both natural and artificial radioisotopes, and includes their physical and chemical properties, their use, and their behavior in the environment.
Related Terms
- Radiation: The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.
- Radioactive Decay: The process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.
- Radioisotope: An isotope that exhibits radioactivity.
- Nuclear Chemistry: The subfield of chemistry dealing with radioactivity, nuclear processes, and transformations in the nuclei of atoms.
- Radiopharmaceuticals: Radioactive compounds used as drugs in diagnostic and therapeutic treatment.
Applications
Radiochemistry has many applications, including in medicine, where it is used in both the diagnosis and treatment of disease. For example, radiopharmaceuticals are used in the field of nuclear medicine to diagnose diseases such as cancer and heart disease. In environmental science, radiochemistry is used to understand the behavior of radioactive contaminants in the environment and their impact on human health.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Radiochemistry
- Wikipedia's article - Radiochemistry
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