Radiation Interaction and Biological Effects

Products that reduce atomic weight during emission from heavy nuclei.

When a heavy nucleus emits protons or neutrons after energy impact.

Ionization caused by charged particles colliding with atoms.

Radiation that transfers energy to create charged particles that ionize.

Particles like electrons and protons that can ionize directly.

When a photon gives its energy to another particle, creating ionization.

Neutrons can indirectly cause ionization by transferring energy to charged particles.

The minimum energy (about 6 megaelectron volts) needed for heavy nuclei emission.

Kinetic energy is conserved in elastic scattering processes.

Interaction where total kinetic energy remains constant after scattering.

Interaction where some kinetic energy is lost due to binding forces.

Forces that hold a nucleus together, affecting energy in interactions.

Helium nuclei composed of two protons and two neutrons, emitted during certain interactions.

Particles within a nucleus: protons and neutrons.

Pieces formed from the splitting of a nucleus during interactions.

Particles like alpha particles that result from nuclear fragment interactions.

A molecule with an unpaired electron in its outermost shell, making it highly reactive.

An electron that is not paired with another electron in an orbital, leading to instability.

The tendency of a substance to undergo chemical reactions, often due to the presence of free radicals.

A state where atoms have paired electrons, resulting in lower reactivity.

Describes substances that rapidly engage in chemical reactions due to their unstable nature.

The short duration that free radicals exist due to their high reactivity; they quickly react to stabilize.

The ability of free radicals to move through cells in search of stable electrons.

Free radicals are neutral; they do not carry a charge despite their reactivity.

A theory focusing on DNA as the main target of radiation effects.

A molecule that encodes genetic information and directs protein synthesis.

Radiation interacts directly with DNA, causing damage immediately.

Radiation interacts with other molecules, causing secondary damage to DNA.

High Linear Energy Transfer radiation that deposits energy easily in a small area.

Low Linear Energy Transfer radiation that deposits energy less easily and travels further.

The process where radiation causes atoms to gain or lose electrons, resulting in charged particles.

Biological mechanisms that fix damaged DNA to prevent mutations.

The breakdown of water molecules due to radiation, producing ions.

The chemical representation of water is H2O, consisting of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

A water molecule (H2O) that has lost an electron, resulting in a positive charge (H2O+).

A water molecule that has gained an electron, resulting in a negative charge (H2O-).

A positively charged ion formed from the dissociation of a positively charged water molecule.

A highly reactive species formed when a positively charged water molecule dissociates, containing an extra electron.

Ions formed from water radiolysis that are unstable and seek stability by interacting with other molecules.

When photons arrive and release fast electrons that can cause chemical reactions.

The breakdown of DNA structure due to factors like free radicals.

The concept that specific DNA or cellular targets determine the effects of radiation damage.

DNA carries instructions vital for cellular activity and protein synthesis.

RNA transports genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein making.

Cells with a nucleus that contain DNA organized into chromosomes.

Evidence of cellular or DNA damage that may appear long after exposure.