What effect does radiation have on matter?

Effects of radiation on matter

Radiation causes a buildup of energy in the material in which it passes. The effects of radiation can take the form of ionization, excitation, or breaking of chemical bonds.

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  Ionization: in this case the radiation particles hit the orbital electrons of the atoms or molecules of the substance they are passing through to form positive ions and ionized electrons.
• Excitation: in this case radiation does not cause electrons to be released from the atoms or molecules of the substance but only to move to a higher energy level.
• Breaking of Chemical Bonds: radiation produced by radioactive substances has energy that can break chemical bonds.