radiolysis

American  

[rey-dee-ol-uh-sis] / reɪ diˈɒl ə sɪs /

noun

Chemistry.

1. the dissociation of molecules by ionizing radiation.

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radiolysis British  

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈlɪtɪk, ˌreɪdɪˈɒlɪsɪs /

noun

1. chemical decomposition caused by radiation, such as a beam of electrons or X-rays

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Other Word Forms

• radiolytic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of radiolysis

First recorded in 1945–50; radio- + -lysis

Example Sentences

It’s covered by the ancient Gawler Craton, and its iron and uranium mines point to the source rocks needed for both serpentinization and radiolysis.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 15, 2023

A second mechanism, radiolysis, may generate the rest.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 15, 2023

Scientists have previously studied Mars radiolysis, but this marks the first estimate using Martian rocks to quantify the planet’s subsurface habitability.

From Scientific American • Aug. 12, 2021

The researchers report that if water was present, radiolysis in the Martian subsurface could have sustained microbial communities for billions of years—and perhaps still could today.

From Scientific American • Aug. 12, 2021

Extrapolating these rates over geologically important periods of time and merging with modeled radiolysis data yields a predicted 1000-fold decrease in 100–atomic mass unit organic molecules in ∼650 million years.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 23, 2014