Monday, December 1, 2008

Radium


Radium
Ra
#88
Atomic Mass: 226
Melting Point:700 degC
Boiling Point: 1737 degC
Density:5.0 g/cm cubed
Who discovered it?
Radium was discovered by Pierre and Marie Curie in 1898.
What are some of its general properties?
Its appearance is almost pure white, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, turning black.
It is extremley radioactive and reacts violently with water and oil to form radium hydroxide
In radium preperations, emmited radiation consists of three types of radiations:alpha particles, beta partciles, and gamma rays. The fire from Radium compounds produces a bright red flame. Due to its geologically short half life and intense radioactivity, radium compounds are quite rare, occurring almost exclusively in uranium ores.
What are the sources of Radium
Radium was discovered in pitchblende or uraninite. Radium is found in all uranium minerals.There is approximately 1 gram of radium for each 7 tons of pitchblende.(pitchblende is a radioactive, uranium-rich mineral and ore with a chemical composition)
What are some historical points for Radium?
Radium was initially used in selft-luminous paints for watches, nuclear panels, aircraft switches, clocks, and instrument dials. Once the adverse affects of radioactivitey were becoming more commonplace, the useage of radium in paints declined. Radium was also once used in products like toothpaste, hair creams, and even food items due to its supposed curative powers. Because of Ra letha qualities, putting it in digestable items didn't work out too hotly...D:
Other intersting things
Radium is highly radioactive and its decay product, radon gas, is also radioactive. Since radium is chemically similar to calcium, it has the potential to cause great harm by replacing it in bones. Inhalation, injection, ingestion or body exposure to radium can cause cancer and other disorders. Stored radium should be ventilated to prevent accumulation of radon
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