Question

A sunburn is a familiar example of the effect of ionizing radiation like ultraviolet light where longer exposure harms the skin and tissues. At the atomic level what is being produced by ionizing radiation on skin

Answer 1

Ionizing radiation like ultraviolet light can cause damage to cells and tissues in the skin by producing free radicals - atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons that are highly reactive and can damage nearby molecules by stealing an electron from them. This damage can then lead to cell death or mutations that can increase the risk of cancer. Additionally, ionizing radiation can directly break bonds in DNA molecules, which can also lead to mutations and cell death.