Radiation Safety Practice Exam

What is ionization?

1. The addition of electrons to an atom

2. The process of a neutral atom gaining either a positive or negative charge

3. The removal of protons from an atom

4. The merging of two atoms

The correct answer is: The process of a neutral atom gaining either a positive or negative charge

Ionization refers to the process through which a neutral atom gains either a positive or negative charge by adding or removing charged particles, particularly electrons. When an atom gains an electron, it becomes negatively charged and is referred to as an anion. Conversely, when an atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged and is known as a cation. This change in charge is significant because it affects the atom's chemical behavior and interactions with other atoms and molecules. Understanding ionization is fundamental in fields such as chemistry and radiation safety, as many radiation processes involve the ionization of atoms, impacting the matter around them. The other options do not accurately describe ionization. Adding electrons (the first option) would only refer to one aspect of ionization: creating a negatively charged ion, but it doesn’t encompass the full process. Removing protons (the third option) is not part of the ionization process, as protons (which reside in the nucleus) influence the atomic number rather than the charge related to ionization. Finally, the merging of two atoms (the fourth option) describes a different interaction known as fusion or bonding, rather than the charge alteration that occurs during ionization.