Final answer:
Radiation interactions with matter can change its physical and chemical properties, identifying the substance's chemical nature. The energy transferred to electrons, detection methods, and characteristics of radioactivity help analyze these changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interaction of radiation with matter can reveal the chemical identity of a substance. When high-energy particles from radioactive decay interact with matter, they can cause ionization and break chemical bonds, leading to observable changes in physical properties. The type of radiation, its energy, the density of the interaction (number of particles or photons per unit area), and the chemical nature of the substance influence these changes.
Ionizing radiation tends to impart more energy to electrons than to nuclei due to the law of conservation of momentum and energy. Electrons, being lighter, are more readily displaced than the heavier nuclei. Moreover, the characteristics of radioactivity, such as independence from chemical state and not being affected by temperature or pressure, suggest a nuclear rather than atomic origin. This connects to Antoine Becquerel's discovery that led to understanding nuclear radioactivity.
Detection of radiation often involves instruments like scintillation counters and Geiger counters, which can measure the presence and energy of radiation, allowing us to assess its effects on substances. A change in substance identity, such as the color change in irradiated glass, confirms a chemical change has taken place due to radiation, which is key in identifying the chemical nature of materials.