Which of the Following Represents the Rate of Radioactive Decay Equal to One Disintegration per Second?

January 10, 2019

Answer

The answer is B. Becquerel.

Becquerel (Bq) (https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/becquerel-bq.html) is one of three units of measurement used to indicate radioactivity or how many atoms in the material decay or disintegrate in a specific amount of time. A Bq represents the rate of decay equal to one disintegration per second.  

Curie (Ci) (https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/curie-ci.html) is another measurement of radioactivity, but it signifies decay at a rate of 37 billion disintegrations per second. Therefore, 1 Ci = 37 billion Bq.  

Gray (Gy) (https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/gray-gy.html) is a unit of measurement for the absorbed dose of radiation and is equivalent to 100 rads.

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