Which unit of measurement is used to express the decay rate of radioactive materials?

The decay rate of radioactive materials is expressed in curies. The curie is a unit that represents the activity of a quantity of radioactive material, specifically how many disintegrations occur per second. One curie is defined as the amount of radioactive material that undergoes 3.7 x 10^10 disintegrations per second, which is equivalent to the decay rate of 1 gram of radium-226.

This measurement is critical for understanding the level of radioactivity and potential exposure associated with a radioactive source. It helps radiation safety professionals assess the risk and implement appropriate safety measures. Other units of measurement, such as volts, amperes, and liters, pertain to different scientific contexts and are not suitable for expressing the decay rate of radioactive materials.