What is the Most Radioactive Substance in the World?
A radioactive substance is a substance that is in the process of radioactive decay. This is when the nucleus of the atom is unstable, and so sends off ionizing energy. This makes it reach a lower energy state, and transform. The idea of which is the most radioactive substance is somewhat problematic in and of itself, because we have to ask what we really mean by most radioactive. There are three main types of ionizing radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. These are named for the various particles that a radioactive substance may send off. An alpha particle consists of two protons bound together with two neutrons to make something that is the same as the nucleus of helium. A beta particle is either a positron or an electron. And gamma rays are high energy protons, with energy above the 100keV range. There are other types of radiation as well, but these three make up the bulk of observable radiation. The dangers of these forms of radiation, which play into how we think about which element i
