7. Ionizing Radiation And Non-Ionizing Radiation

Ultraviolet rays when exposed to our body, it cause sunburn because UV rays is the longest wavelength radiation among the shorter wavelength radiations, in which on exposure to them can damage living tissue and making them a health hazard. Short wavelength part of UV and other shorter wavelength radiations such as X-rays and Gamma rays are called ionizing radiaiton because their photons are more energetic enough to ionize atoms even separating electrons from them and thus causing chemical reactions.

Ionizing radiation is a radiation that carries sufficient energy to detach electrons from atoms and thereby ionizing them. Ionizing radiation is made uo of energetic subatomic particles, ions or atoms moving at high speeds such as alpha radiation, beta radiation and neutron radiation or the electromagnetic waves on the high energy end of the electromagnetic spectrum such as Gamma rays, X-rays and the higher Ultraviolet part of the EM spectrum. Whereas the lower ultraviolet part of the EM spectrum and all the spectrum below UV such as visible light, infrared, microwaves and radiowaves are consideered to be non-ionizing radiation.