Curie

Definition

The Curie (Ci) is a unit of radioactivity that quantifies the number of nuclear disintegrations per second. One Curie is equivalent to 3.7 x 10^{10} disintegrations per second.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Curie is named after Marie and Pierre Curie, pioneers in the study of radioactivity.
2. 1 Curie corresponds to the activity of one gram of radium-226.
3. The SI unit for radioactivity is the Becquerel (Bq), where 1 Ci = 3.7 x 10^{10} Bq.
4. Curie is commonly used in medical applications such as cancer treatment and diagnostic imaging.
5. While not an SI unit, the Curie is still widely used in various fields involving radioactive materials.

Review Questions

• What does one Curie measure in terms of nuclear disintegrations per second?
• How many Becquerels are equivalent to one Curie?
• Why was the unit 'Curie' named after Marie and Pierre Curie?

Related terms

Becquerel:

The SI unit for measuring radioactivity, defined as one nuclear disintegration per second.

Half-Life: The time required for half the atoms in a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo decay.

Radium-226: A radioactive isotope of radium with a half-life of about 1600 years, historically used to define the Curie.