Question

What's the relationship between gamma radiation and the making of free radicals

Answer 1

Gamma radiation or gamma rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation that have very short wavelngths (10^-11m - 10^-12m) and very high energy (around millions of electronvolts (MeV)). Because of their very short wavelengths and very high energy gamma rays penetrate almost everything.

Most of the naturally occuring substances are present as molecules. Molecules are two or more atoms of same element or different elements bonded togather with electronic bonds. Atoms make electronic bonds with other atoms when they have unpaired electrons in their valence shell. These bonds are generally very strong and require very high energy to break them. When these bonds are broken and individual atoms retain their electrons, free radicals are formed. Free radicals are defined as molecules or atoms capable of independent existence that contain an unpaired electron in an atomic orbital. Free radicals, owing to their unpaired electron, are very reactive and cause chemical reactions to take place in the medium they are fomed. If they are formed inside a cell in a human body, the unwanted chemical reactions caused by them can damage DNA and introduce mutation or genetic disorder in a healthy human body.

But normal cell mechanisms and bodily functions are not energetic enough to cause free radicals to form. But if very high energy radiation such as gamma radiation enters a human body, it can cause free radical formation inside the body. Gamma radiation is energetic enough to break the strong electronic bonds iin the molecules of tissues and cells. Besides forming free radicals, gamma radiations can also knock off an electron from a molecule or an atom and cause ionization.

------------------X--------------------X---------------------X-----------------------X---------------------

If you find this answer helpful, please give it a thumbs up. Thank you.