What type of radiation is capable of liberating electrons from atoms?

Ionizing radiation is the correct answer because it has sufficient energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, thereby creating ions. This process occurs when the energy of the ionizing radiation exceeds the binding energy of the electrons in the atom.

Ionizing radiation includes forms such as alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and X-rays. Each of these types possesses the energy required to disrupt atomic structures by displacing electrons, which can lead to chemical changes and potential biological effects, such as damage to living tissues or DNA.

In contrast, non-ionizing radiation does not carry enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules and generally only causes excitation of electrons, rather than removing them. Radioactive radiation is a broader category that can include ionizing radiation, but the term is often used to refer specifically to emissions from radioactive decay processes, which may not explicitly focus on the liberation of electrons. Electromagnetic radiation includes both ionizing and non-ionizing types; however, it is the ionizing portion that actually has the capability to liberate electrons, making "electromagnetic radiation" too broad without specifying its ionizing aspect.