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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.
scientific researchhistorymedicine history
Standard atomic weightNo standard atomic weight
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.
Worth remembering
Radium is radioactive, so its chemistry cannot be separated from nuclear physics and radiation safety
Radium is radioactive, so its chemistry cannot be separated from nuclear physics and radiation safety