The rate at which atoms of radioactive sources disintegrate is measured in which unit?

The rate at which atoms of radioactive sources disintegrate is best measured in curies. The curie is defined as the amount of radioactive material that decays at a rate of 37 billion disintegrations per second, which makes it a relevant unit for expressing radioactivity. This measurement directly correlates to the activity of a radioactive source, indicating how many decay events occur over a specific time frame.

Other units mentioned relate to different aspects of radiation measurement. Rems measure the biological effect of radiation, also known as dose equivalent, which considers the type of radiation and its effect on human tissues. Roentgens measure the ionization produced in air by X-rays or gamma rays, focusing more on exposure rather than the disintegration rate itself. Lastly, rods is not a recognized unit related to radioactivity or radiation, which highlights the importance of understanding the specific contexts that each unit applies to within the field of environmental health and radiation safety.