Radium oxide explained

Radium oxide is an inorganic compound of radium and oxygen with the chemical formula RaO.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Synthesis

The compound can be obtained by heating metallic radium in air:^{[4] [5]}

This reaction also produces radium nitride and possibly radium peroxide:

Chemical properties

Radium oxide can react with water to form radium hydroxide:

Uses

It is often used as a precursor to create other radium compounds that are used in radiation therapy.

Notes and References

1. Book: Alkali Metals—Advances in Research and Application: 2013 Edition: ScholarlyBrief . 21 June 2013 . . 978-1-4816-7240-5 . 57 . 8 June 2023 . en.
2. Book: Kumar . Sunil . Biofuels: Technologies, Policies, and Opportunities . 18 April 2023 . . 978-1-000-83718-6 . 239 . 18 November 2023 . en.
3. Book: Coughlin . James P. . Heats and Free Energies of Formation of Inorganic Oxides . 1954 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 38 . 19 November 2023 . en.
4. Book: Ropp . Richard C. . Encyclopedia of the Alkaline Earth Compounds . 31 December 2012 . Newnes . 978-0-444-59553-9 . 115 . 18 November 2023 . en.
5. Book: Corwin . Charles H. . Introductory Chemistry: Concepts and Critical Thinking . 2011 . . 978-0-321-66305-4 . 248 . 19 November 2023 . en.