How is ionizing radiation generally characterized?

Ionizing radiation is characterized primarily by its ability to ionize atoms, meaning that it has sufficient energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, which results in the formation of ions. This property is crucial because ionization can lead to chemical changes in molecules and biological damage in living tissues. Ionizing radiation includes particles such as alpha and beta particles, as well as electromagnetic radiation like gamma rays and X-rays, all of which have the capacity to cause ionization.

The other attributes mentioned, such as particle shape, wavelength, and speed, do not fundamentally define ionizing radiation. While these characteristics can describe certain types of radiation, they are not the primary basis upon which ionizing radiation is classified. The capacity to ionize matter is what distinguishes ionizing radiation from non-ionizing forms like radio waves and visible light, which lack the energy necessary to remove electrons from atoms.