Radium

Radium is a chemical element with the symbol Ra and atomic number 88. It is a pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226.

History[edit | edit source]

Radium was discovered by Marie Curie and Pierre Curie on December 21, 1898. It was extracted from the uranium ore pitchblende (uraninite) and, along with polonium, was the first radioactive element to be discovered. The Curies' studies of the radioactivity of radium led to the development of radiotherapy for cancer treatment.

Properties and Uses[edit | edit source]

Radium is a heavy, silvery-white metal that is highly radioactive. It is used in medicine to produce radon gas, which in turn is used as a cancer treatment. However, its use has declined due to the recognition of the health risks associated with unnecessary radiation exposure.

Health Effects[edit | edit source]

Exposure to radium can have serious health effects, including anemia, cancer, and genetic mutations. The radiation emitted by radium can cause damage to tissues and DNA, leading to health problems such as bone cancer and leukemia.