ATOMIC & NUCLEAR PHYSICS INORGANIC CHEMISTRY A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site radium (Ra) Electron shell diagram for radium. Source: Wikipedia A rare, brilliant-white, luminescent, highly radioactive, metallic element having 16 isotopes (4 of them natural) of which radium 226 (Ra266), with a half-life of 1,622 years is the most common. The gas radon is a decay product. Radium is one of the alkaline earth metals. It has white salts which turn blue as the radium decays, and which emit a blue glow due to ionization of the air by radiation Radium is used in cancer radiotherapy, as a neutron source for some research purposes, and as a constituent of luminescent paints. It was discovered in pitchblende (1898) by Pierre and Marie Curie, and first isolated in metallic form by Marie Curie in 1911. atomic number 88 relative atomic mass 226.025 relative density 5.0 melting point 700°C (1,292°F) boiling point 1,737°C (3,157°F) Related categories    • ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS    • INORGANIC CHEMISTRY Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP