Radioactivity and Nuclear Radiation

This process of emitting excess energy from the nucleus is called radioactivity or radioactive decay.

The energy released from unstable (radioactive) atoms is called nuclear radiation. The radiation being emitted can be a particle or energy.

The terms "radiation" and "radioactive" are often confused. By keeping the following relationship in mind, these two terms can be distinguished:

RADIOACTIVE ATOMS EMIT RADIATION.

Radioactive atom emitting radiation in the form of waves