Radionuclide: meaning, definitions and examples
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radionuclide
[ ˌreɪ.dioʊˈnjuː.klayd ]
nuclear science
A radionuclide is an atom that has excess nuclear energy, making it unstable. This instability leads to the emission of radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves. Radionuclides can occur naturally or be man-made, and they are used in various applications such as medicine, industry, and research.
Synonyms
radioactive isotope, radioisotope
Examples of usage
- Radionuclides are used in cancer treatment to target and kill malignant cells.
- The study of radionuclides helps in understanding radioactive decay processes.
- Many radionuclides are utilized in diagnostic imaging techniques.
- Radionuclide labeling is a crucial method in biological research.
Translations
Translations of the word "radionuclide" in other languages:
🇵🇹 radionuclídeo
🇮🇳 रेडियोन्यूक्लाइड
🇩🇪 Radionuklid
🇮🇩 radionuklida
🇺🇦 радіонуклід
🇵🇱 radionuklid
🇯🇵 放射性核種
🇫🇷 radionucléide
🇪🇸 radionúclido
🇹🇷 radyoaktif izotop
🇰🇷 방사성 동위원소
🇸🇦 نظير مشع
🇨🇿 radionuklid
🇸🇰 radionuklid
🇨🇳 放射性核素
🇸🇮 radionuklid
🇮🇸 geislavirkni kjarntegund
🇰🇿 радионуклид
🇬🇪 რადიონუკლიდი
🇦🇿 radionuklid
🇲🇽 radionúclido
Etymology
The term 'radionuclide' derives from two parts: 'radio' and 'nuclide'. 'Radio' refers to the concept of radiation, which comes from the Latin word 'radius', meaning ray. This prefix highlights the presence of radiation associated with the unstable nuclei of such atoms. 'Nuclide' itself originates from the combination of 'nucleus', derived from Latin 'nucleus', meaning the kernel or core of something, and the suffix '-ide', which is commonly used in chemistry to denote a specific type of atom or ion. The whole term 'radionuclide' is relatively modern, emerging in the mid-20th century as the field of nuclear physics advanced. The discovery of radioactivity by Henri Becquerel in 1896 and the subsequent work on radioisotopes has played a pivotal role in the development of the concept of radionuclides.