Attenuation

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-012903",
  "term": "Attenuation",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The reduction in the intensity of radiation as it passes through a medium, resulting from absorption and scattering processes. The extent of attenuation depends on the properties of the radiation, such as its energy, and the composition and thickness of the material it traverses. In nuclear analytical chemistry, this effect is quantified by the linear attenuation coefficient, which has units of reciprocal length (e.g., cm⁻¹).",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "radiation"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1982, 54, 1533. 'Glossary of terms used in nuclear analytical chemistry (Provisional)' on page 1536 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198254081533)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/attenuation/"
}