# Radioactivity and gamma rays

> Some isotopes have unstable nuclei that decay and emit radiation; gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic rays with high penetrating power.

> [ar-EG] فيه isotopes الـ nuclei بتاعتها unstable، فبتعمل decay وبتطلّع radiation. والـ gamma rays هي electromagnetic rays طاقتها عالية جدًا، وليها high penetrating power.

Part of: Transition Elements (https://yaani.ai/en/learn/chemistry/chem-s3-en.ch1)

## Builds on

- Isotopes and average atomic mass
- Electromagnetic radiation (UV, X-rays, gamma)

## Common mix-ups

- Anything exposed to gamma rays becomes radioactive.: No. Gamma rays pass through the object and leave; they do not put a radioactive isotope inside it, so the object does not become radioactive. The unstable nuclei stay in the source that gives out the rays. ([ar-EG] لأ، الـ gamma rays بتعدّي من الجسم وتمشي، ومش بتحط جواه radioactive isotope، فهو مش بيبقى radioactive. الـ radioactive isotope موجود في المصدر نفسه.)

Source: https://yaani.ai/en/concept/phys.radioactivity-gamma