Appearance and Characteristics
Harmful effects:
Radium is highly radioactive and hence carcinogenic. Microscopic quantities of radium in the environment can lead to some accumulation of radium in bone tissue. Radium, like calcium, is a group II element and our bodies treat it in a similar way.
Characteristics:
Radium is a silvery-white metal. It is highly radioactive and its decay product, radon gas, is also radioactive. One result of radium’s intense radioactivity is that the metal and its compounds glow in the dark.
When it is exposed to air, it reacts with nitrogen to quickly form a black coating of radium nitride.
Radium’s chemistry is similar to that of the other alkali earth metals. It reacts very vigorously with water to form hydrogen gas and radium hydroxide. It reacts with even more vigorously with hydrochloric acid to form radium chloride.
Uses of Radium
Radium was used in the production of luminous paints, but this is now considered too dangerous.
Radium chloride was used medicinally to produce radon gas for cancer treatment. Safer treatments are now available.