What is the process of making stable materials radioactive termed?

The process of making stable materials radioactive is referred to as activation. This involves exposing a stable material to a source of radiation, such as neutrons, which causes the stable isotopes within the material to become unstable and radioactive. This can be done in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators, where the stable materials capture incoming particles, leading to changes in their atomic structure and converting them into radioactive isotopes.

For example, when stable isotopes are bombarded with neutrons, this can result in the formation of new isotopes that are not found naturally and possess radioactive properties. This method is widely used in various applications, including medical treatments, the production of radioactive tracers for diagnostic purposes, and the generation of isotopes used in nuclear energy.

In contrast, decay refers to the process by which unstable isotopes lose energy and emit radiation as they transform into more stable forms. Ionization is a process that results in the formation of ions, usually when high-energy radiation interacts with matter. Transmutation involves changing one chemical element or isotope into another, which can occur through nuclear reactions but is more specific than activation. Thus, activation accurately defines the initial process of rendering stable materials radioactive by exposing them to radiation.