Radium is the heaviest element in Group 2 of the periodic table. The elements in this group are sometimes referred to as the alkaline earth elements. Radium's atomic number is 88, its atomic mass is 226.0254, and its chemical symbol is Ra.

Properties

All isotopes of radium are radioactive with radium-226 being the most stable. It has a half life of 1,600 years. Radium is a brilliant white metal with a melting point of 1,292°F (700°C), a boiling point of 3,159°F (1,737°C), and a density of 5.5 grams per cubic centimeter. The element's chemical properties are similar to those of the other alkaline earth elements, except that it is the most reactive member of the family. For most scientists, the most interesting features of radium are not its chemical properties, but its radioactivity.

Occurrence and Extraction

Isotopes of radium are formed during the radioactive decay of uranium and are...