Question

Elements do emit radiation on their own and this property is known as _____

(a) Radioactivity

(b) Refraction

(c) Absorption

(d) Adsorption

I have been asked this question during an interview.

Enquiry is from Atomic Models topic in portion Structure of Atom of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Correct answer is (a) Radioactivity

The best I can explain: Henri Becquerel discovered that elements emit radiation and termed this phenomenon as radioactivity. Later Curie on research found out about α-rays, β-rays and γ-rays. Later Rutherford concluded that α particles are helium nuclei.