Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Radium

Atomic number 88 means that every Radium nucleus contains 88 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Radium.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 88 means that every Radium nucleus contains 88 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Radium.

Radium (Ra) is chemical element 88. It belongs to the alkaline-earth metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in scientific research, history and medicine history.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 88 means that every Radium nucleus contains 88 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Radium.

Keep exploring

→ Radium · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

88RaRadium
Radium · Ra · Z = 88

Radium (Ra) is chemical element 88. It belongs to the alkaline-earth metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Radium (Ra) is chemical element 88. It belongs to the alkaline-earth metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in scientific research, history and medicine history.

What its position in the table tells us

Radium sits in period 7, group 2 and the S block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.