Becquerel (Bq)
SI unit of radioactivity: one decay per second.
What is a becquerel?
- Symbol
- Bq
- Quantity
- Radioactivity
- Unit system
- SI
- Definition
- SI unit of radioactivity: one decay per second.
- Exact
- Yes, the value is exact by definition
- Source
- SI Brochure, 9th edition (BIPM, 2019)
Common applications
Used for radioactivity in food, water, soil and air, for example radon in Bq/m³, and for small laboratory sources.
Becquerel in other radioactivity units
- 1 Bq = 0.001 kBqKilobecquerel
- 1 Bq = 0.000001 MBqMegabecquerel
- 1 Bq = 1e-9 GBqGigabecquerel
- 1 Bq = 1e-12 TBqTerabecquerel
- 1 Bq ≈ 2.702702703e-11 CiBecquerel to Curie converter
- 1 Bq ≈ 2.702702703e-8 mCiMillicurie
- 1 Bq ≈ 0.00002702702703 µCiMicrocurie
- 1 Bq ≈ 27.02702703 pCiBecquerel to Picocurie converter
- 1 Bq = 0.000001 RdRutherford
- 1 Bq = 60 dpmDisintegration per minute
Becquerel quick reference
| Becquerel | Curie | Picocurie | Gigabecquerel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bq | ≈ 2.702702703e-11 Ci | ≈ 27.02702703 pCi | = 1e-9 GBq |
| 10 Bq | ≈ 2.702702703e-10 Ci | ≈ 270.2702703 pCi | = 1e-8 GBq |
| 100 Bq | ≈ 2.702702703e-9 Ci | ≈ 2702.702703 pCi | = 1e-7 GBq |
| 1000 Bq | ≈ 2.702702703e-8 Ci | ≈ 27027.02703 pCi | = 0.000001 GBq |
Where the becquerel fits
The next smaller radioactivity unit is the picocurie (pCi). 1 Bq ≈ 27.02702703 pCi, and 1 pCi = 0.037 Bq.
The next larger radioactivity unit is the kilobecquerel (kBq). 1 Bq = 0.001 kBq, and 1 kBq = 1000 Bq.
Frequently asked questions
- How many curies are in one becquerel?
- One becquerel ≈ 2.702702703e-11 Ci (curies).
- How many picocuries are in one becquerel?
- One becquerel ≈ 27.02702703 pCi (picocuries).
- How many gigabecquerels are in one becquerel?
- One becquerel = 1e-9 GBq (gigabecquerels).