Why do some radioactive elements emit a green glow?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter SUDOnym
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Elements Radioactive
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of certain radioactive elements emitting a green glow, particularly in the context of teaching radioactivity to a year 10 class. Participants explore the conditions under which this glow occurs, its historical context, and related phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the existence of the green glow associated with radioactive elements and seeks clarification on its occurrence, suggesting that ionizing radiation may excite oxygen atoms to emit green light.
  • Another participant introduces the idea of blue Cherenkov radiation observed in nuclear reactors, indicating a potential confusion between blue and green emissions.
  • A different participant asserts that the glow is indeed green and references a video for further evidence, while also considering radium as a possible source of the glow.
  • Another contribution mentions fluorescent minerals that may glow under UV light and suggests they could also emit light in the presence of beta/gamma radiation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the color of the glow (green vs. blue) and the specific radioactive elements responsible for it. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact nature and conditions of the glow.

Contextual Notes

There are references to historical uses of radioactive materials in jewelry, but the validity of these claims is not confirmed. The discussion includes various assumptions about the mechanisms behind the glow and the types of radiation involved.

SUDOnym
Messages
88
Reaction score
1
Hello

I am doing radioactivity with my year 10 class and it has set me think about something.
I would be grateful for clarification on the following issue and also any other facts that you would like to share that would be of interest to 14 year olds!

My issue: all the famous radioactive elements (eg. uranium, plutonium, polonium) look just like any other metal (ie. silver). In what instance will we get the famous "green glow"?
That glow is not a myth is it? - for example I have heard a number of times that before they were aware of the danger of radioactive elements women used to wear glowing green jewellery! (Please don't tell me that's not true!).
My thinking: One possible explanation I can think of for a green glow would be that the ionising radiation from the radioactive source would excite / ionise oxygen atoms and so when the atoms de-excite they emit green light (just like what happens with aurora... OIII is the emission line there?).

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
SUDOnym, Green or blue? You may be referring to the blue Cherenkov radiation that's seen in the water surrounding nuclear reactors.
 
definitely green... skip to 7:00 minutes of the following link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4XIOpKWc1Y

However, a browse around wikipedia leads me to think that it is probably radium I am thinking of...
 
There are various fluorescent minerals which glow under UV, and in theory they would glow in the presence of beta/gamma radiation.
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/circulars/downloads/15/Circular%2015.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

High School Can alpha radiation make other materials radioactive?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
High School Shorter half-life and therefore very radioactive -- why?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Calculating safe levels of radioactivity
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
5K
High School Quick Question about emitted radiation and Geiger counter accuracy
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
High School Using muon-catalyzation toward Island of Stability?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
High School Do emission nebula glow because of ionised or excited electrons?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Why do Christmas lights glow green near a Tesla coil?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
High School Why Do Different Materials Glow When Heated?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Graduate Solar sail using radioactive decay
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
8K
High School How can something be "Zero Dimensional?"
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K