Ionizing Radiation

Radiation that possesses enough energy to ionize a material that it penetrates. In other words, it removes electrons from atoms, which have a neutral charge, and transforms them into ions, which have a positive charge. For example, ionization of the hydrogen H --> H+ + e- atom requires minimum energy of 13.6 eV. There are two forms of ionizing radiation: waves (X, gamma and certain ultra-violet rays) and particles (electron β-, positon β+, neutron, muon, proton, He2+ α, etc.). All of these are hazardous to health, especially in high doses.