What kind of materials will display as shades of green during an X-ray inspection?

During an X-ray inspection, organic materials will display as shades of green. The X-ray machine's detection system is designed to differentiate materials based on their density and atomic composition. Organic materials, which are primarily made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, tend to absorb X-rays less than inorganic materials and metals. Consequently, they will appear as lighter shades, often green, on the X-ray image.

This characteristic is significant for security and inspection purposes because it allows for easy identification of organic items such as food, plastic, and paper, which can be vital in contexts like airport security or customs inspections. The varying densities of organic materials compared to metals and synthetic materials influence how they are visualized on the X-ray machine, contributing to the identification process.