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With a geiger counter. It can detect radioactive particles. That is the most common, modern way. In Ernest Rutherford's 'Gold Foil' Experiment, he visible saw radioactive particles by using a sheet of Zinc Sulfide that lit up when it was hit by an alpha particle (form of radiation).

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13y ago
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4mo ago

You can tell if a substance is radioactive by using a Geiger counter, which detects ionizing radiation. Radioactive substances emit radiation that can be detected by the Geiger counter, indicating their radioactive nature. Additionally, measuring the levels of specific radioactive isotopes in the substance can provide further confirmation of its radioactivity.

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13y ago

It means that the atoms inside the substance are not stable; the nuclei in these atoms can decay. This changes one type of atom into another and releases radiation (the exact type of radiation depends on the substance). Types of radiation are gamma rays, electrons/positrons or helium nuclei.

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15y ago

use a gigacounter near the element i guess use a gigacounter near the element i guess

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13y ago

isotopes have the same number of neutrons. elements have the same number or neutrons

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13y ago

A chemical element is radioactive if this element emit radioactive radiations as alpha, beta or gamma; all artificial elements or isotopes are radioactive.

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12y ago

You can test it with a Geiger counter.

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Q: How can you tell if a substance is radioactive?
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Radioactive substances are unstable as a result of the extra neutrons present in the nuclei of the substance. Non-radioactive substances are stable.


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A. The half-life of a radioactive substance is determined by the specific decay process of that substance, so it is not affected by the mass of the substance or the temperature. B. The mass of the substance does not affect the half-life of a radioactive substance. C. The addition of a catalyst does not affect the half-life of a radioactive substance. D. The type of radioactive substance directly determines its half-life, as different substances undergo radioactive decay at varying rates.


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Radioactive waste is nearly always a mixture but it is possible to be a pure substance.


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