rádionuklidom

Rádionuklidom is the instrumental case of the Slovak word rádionuklid, which translates to "radionuclide" in English. A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus that spontaneously disintegrates, releasing energy in the form of radiation. This process is known as radioactive decay. The emitted radiation can include alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and neutrons, depending on the specific radionuclide.

Radionuclides occur naturally in the environment, such as in rocks, soil, and water, and are also produced artificially through nuclear reactions in reactors or particle accelerators. They have various applications in fields like medicine for diagnosis and treatment, industry for gauging and sterilization, and scientific research for dating materials and studying biological processes.

The rate at which a radionuclide decays is characterized by its half-life, the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay. Half-lives can range from fractions of a second to billions of years. Due to their radioactive properties, handling and disposal of radionuclides require strict safety precautions to minimize exposure to radiation.