Radium Facts & Worksheets

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Radium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Ra and has the atomic number 88. Radium belongs to Group 2, Period 7, Block s in the Periodic Table of Elements.

See the fact file below for more information about Radium, or you can download our 33-page Radium worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ELEMENT PROPERTIES

• Radium has the chemical symbol Ra.
• The atomic number of Radium is 88.
• Radium belongs to Group 2, Period 7, Block s in the Periodic Table of Elements.
• The electron configuration of Radium is [Rn] 7s².
• The atomic weight of Radium is 226.
• The melting point of Radium is 696 degrees Celsius or 1285 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, its boiling point is 1500 degrees Celsius or 2732 degrees Fahrenheit.

BRIEF HISTORY

• Radium was discovered on the 21st of December in 1898 by Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie.
• In July of 1898, while Marie and Pierre were studying the pitchblende sample, they were able to isolate an element with similarities with bismuth; this element turned out to be polonium.
• They then isolated a radioactive mixture, which consisted of compounds of barium and unknown compounds that had carmine spectral lines.
• They concluded the unknown compounds have similarities with barium compounds, except that they were less soluble.
• This discovery enabled the Curies to isolate radioactive substances and uncover a new element within them.
• The Curies announced their discovery on the 26th of December in 1898.
• The naming of the element dates back to around 1899.
• Radium is derived from the Latin word ‘radius’, which means ray; this was in line with the capability of Radium to emit energy in the form of rays.

CHEMISTRY

Isotopes

• Radium has no stable or near-stable isotopes. 
• The longest-lived and also the most common radium isotope is ²²⁶Ra with a half-life of 1600 years. 
• Radium has 33 known isotopes and all of them are radioactive.

Compounds

• Most radium compounds are, therefore, simple ionic compounds.
• Because radium ions have no distinctive coloration, solid radium compounds appear white, but they gradually turn yellow and then dark over time due to self-radiolysis from Radium’s alpha decay.
• All barium, most strontium, and most lead compounds co-precipitate with insoluble radium compounds.
• Radium hydroxide is the most easily soluble of the alkaline earth hydroxides and has a stronger base than barium hydroxide.
• Radium chloride is a bright, colorless chemical. Radium chloride turns yellow after a while due to self-damage caused by the alpha radiation emitted by Radium as it decays.
• Small amounts of barium impurities can give Radium chloride a rose color.
• Radium chloride is soluble in water, but not as much as barium chloride, and its solubility diminishes as the quantity of hydrochloric acid increases.
• Radium bromide is a colorless, brilliant chemical as well. It is more soluble in water than radium chloride. 
• Radium nitrate is a colorless chemical formed by dissolving radium carbonate in nitric acid. 
• The solubility of radium nitrate diminishes as the concentration of nitric acid increases, which is an important feature for the chemical purification of Radium.

PRODUCTION

• Curie used the remains from the extraction of uranium from pitchblende in the first radium extraction. 
• The radium extraction procedure begins with boiling with sodium hydroxide, followed by hydrochloric acid treatment to remove impurities from other compounds.
• The leftover residue was then treated with sodium carbonate to transform the barium sulfate (containing the Radium) into barium carbonate (soluble in hydrochloric acid).
• Certain contaminants that produce insoluble sulfides were eliminated by treating the chloride solution with hydrogen sulfide and then filtering it.
• When the mixed sulfates are pure enough, they are converted again to mixed chlorides.
• Barium and Radium are then separated by fractional crystallisation while progress was monitored with a spectroscope (Radium gives characteristic red lines in contrast to the green barium lines) and an electroscope.
• Following Marie and Pierre Curie’s isolation of Radium from uranium ore in Jáchymov, several scientists began to isolate Radium in small quantities. 
• Small firms later on purchased mine tailings from Jáchymov mines and began separating Radium.
• As late as the 1990s, small amounts of Radium were recovered from uranium ore using this combined precipitation and ion exchange process. As of 2011, they could only be recovered from spent nuclear fuel.

APPLICATIONS

• Radium has limited practical applications due to its high radioactivity and toxicity.
• Radium-226 was used in the past to treat cancer through radiation therapy. However, its use has been largely replaced by more modern and less toxic radioisotopes.
• Radium emits light when it decays, a property known as luminescence. This property was used in the past to create self-powered watches and clocks, which were called radium watches or radium clocks.
• Radium is used in some industrial processes, such as in the production of certain chemicals, as a tracer element in oil and gas exploration, and in the analysis of materials.
• Radium is still used in scientific research, particularly in the study of nuclear physics, radioactivity, and radiation chemistry.

“RADIUM GIRLS”

• Radium Girls were women employed in factories during the early 20th century to paint watch dials and other products with radium-laced paint.
• Radium was promoted as a miracle cure and was used in various products, including cosmetics and food supplements.
• The paint used to apply radium to products was made by mixing radium with a solution of zinc sulfide, which glowed in the dark.
• The women were encouraged to lick the paint brushes to create a fine point, unaware that they were ingesting radioactive material.
• As a result, many of these women developed serious health problems, including bone cancer, anemia, and neuropathy.
• The Radium Girls’ story highlights the dangers of exposure to radioactive materials and the importance of worker safety and protection.

HAZARDS

• Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that can pose several hazards to human health when exposed to high concentrations.
• Radium emits alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Alpha radiation is highly ionizing and can cause severe damage to cells if it enters the body. Beta radiation is less damaging but can still cause skin burns and cancer. Gamma radiation is less penetrating but can cause damage to cells from a distance.
• Exposure to high levels of radium can increase the risk of developing cancer, particularly bone cancer, due to the radiation’s ability to damage DNA and cells in the bone marrow.
• Radium exposure can lead to bone diseases such as osteosarcoma, osteomyelitis, and osteonecrosis due to the high levels of radiation affecting bone tissue.
• Radium exposure can also affect reproductive health by causing mutations in sperm and egg cells, leading to genetic defects in offspring.
• Radium can also pose environmental hazards as it is found in soil, water, and air in low concentrations. High levels of radium in water sources can lead to contamination of drinking water and pose a health risk to people who consume it regularly.
• Workers in industries such as mining, nuclear power plants, and medical facilities where radium is used or produced are at a higher risk of exposure due to their occupational exposure to the element. Proper safety measures should be taken to minimize exposure in these settings.

Radium Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Radium across 33 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Radium. Radium belongs to Group 2, Period 7, Block s in the Periodic Table of Elements.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

1. Radium Facts
2. Ra-Crossword
3. Word Chop Worksheet
4. T or F
5. Radium Girls
6. Word Search
7. Radium Numbers
8. Double Puzzle
9. Quiz Time!
10. Radium Maze
11. Creativity!

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is radium?

Radium is a chemical element with the symbol Ra and atomic number 88. It is a highly radioactive metal and is part of the alkaline earth metal group. Radium is silvery-white in color and is derived from the decay of uranium and thorium in the Earth’s crust.

How was radium discovered?

Radium was discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre Curie in 1898. They isolated radium from uranium ore and pitchblende. Marie Curie coined the term “radioactivity” during their research on radium and polonium. The Curies’ work on radium and radioactivity earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903.

What are the uses of radium?

Radium was historically used for various purposes, including in luminescent paint for watch dials and aircraft instruments due to its ability to glow in the dark. However, its use declined due to the health risks associated with its radioactivity. Today, radium is not used extensively, primarily because of its hazardous nature and the availability of safer alternatives.

What are the health risks associated with radium?

Radium is radioactive, emitting alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Prolonged exposure to radium poses significant health risks, as it can accumulate in bones and irradiate nearby tissues. This can lead to various health issues, including an increased risk of cancer, especially bone cancer. Due to its potential harm, regulatory measures have been implemented to limit exposure to radium.

How is radium measured and monitored?

Radium levels are typically measured using specialized instruments that can detect its radioactive emissions. Monitoring is essential in environments where radium may be present, such as certain industries or locations with a history of radium use. Regulatory agencies set limits on radium exposure to protect human health, and monitoring is crucial to ensure compliance with these safety standards.

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Link will appear as Radium Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 14, 2024