Which of the following is true regarding ionizing radiation?

Ionizing radiation is a form of energy with enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions in the process. This ability to displace electrons is fundamental to its interaction with matter, particularly biological tissues. Because of this, ionizing radiation can indeed cause molecular damage in living tissue, leading to effects such as cellular injury, DNA damage, mutations, and potentially cancer.

The role of ionizing radiation extends beyond merely damaging molecules; it plays a significant part in both therapeutic and diagnostic contexts in medicine. While it is used for imaging in modalities like X-rays and CT scans, this is not its sole application. Furthermore, ionizing radiation undeniably has biological effects, as demonstrated by research into its use in radiation therapy for cancer, where it selectively targets and damages cancerous cells.

Understanding this makes it clear why the statement about ionizing radiation causing molecular damage in living tissue is accurate and highlights its significant biological relevance.