Radium hydroxide explained

Radium hydroxide is an inorganic compound of radium, hydrogen, and oxygen with the chemical formula .^[1] Stability constant of aqueous RaOH⁺ ion pair at zero ionic strength is equal to 5.^[2]

Synthesis

• A reaction of radium metal with water:^[3]

• The reaction of radium oxide and water can also generate radium hydroxide, and the reaction releases a lot of heat:

• The compound can also be prepared by reacting radium nitrate with NaOH in solution.

Physical properties

Radium hydroxide forms colorless crystals that dissolve in water better than does barium hydroxide, and has more basic properties.

The compound forms a hydrate of the composition .^[4]

Radium hydroxide is a caustic, toxic, and corrosive substance. It is significantly more toxic than barium hydroxide and strontium hydroxide .

Notes and References

1. Brown . Paul L. . Matyskin . Artem V. . Ekberg . Christian . The aqueous chemistry of radium . Radiochimica Acta . 1 June 2022 . 110 . 6–9 . 505–513 . 10.1515/ract-2021-1141 . 248301187 . en . 2193-3405. free .
2. Matyskin, Artem V.; Brown, Paul L.; Ekberg, Christian . 2019. Weak barium and radium hydrolysis using an ion exchange method and its uncertainty assessment . Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics . 128 . 362–371. 10.1016/j.jct.2018.08.037. 2019JChTh.128..362M. 105458974.
3. Web site: Alkaline Earth Hydroxide - an overview ScienceDirect Topics . . 8 June 2023.
4. Book: Schweitzer . George K. . Pesterfield . Lester L. . The Aqueous Chemistry of the Elements . 14 January 2010 . . 978-0-19-974219-6 . 448 . 8 June 2023 . en.