Wikijunior:The Elements/Radium

Radium element on Periodic table

What does it look, feel, taste, or smell like?

It's a silver - white and it will react with nitrogen on exposure air. The hardness and texture is unknown because it is radioactive so it's impossible for people to find out.

How was it discovered?

It was discovered by Pierre and Marie Curie in 1898.

Where did its name come from?

This word was created by the word “Radius" in Latin word and it means ray, they created this name after they saw the rays glow from the element

Did You Know?

• Density is 5g/ml.
• The radioactive of the radium is really high.
• Because the radium is high radioactive so it's impossible for people to find out.

Where is it found?

Radium was first found in Bohemia in the rich pitchblende ore. Some can also be found in the Carnotite sands of Colorado, although richer supplies exist in regions of Zaire, Africa and the Great Bear Lake region of Canada.

What are its uses?

Radium is used to kill cancer disease or also use for x-ray. But it’s so expensive so people didn't use it too much. The most common way to use radium is to make the clock glow when it’s in dark place when they mix radium with phosphor. And now, they use it to treat some types of cancer.

Is it dangerous?

First, we can find radium in rocks like that and you walk along and you just contact with it for a short time, it's not affect to your health. But if you contact with radium for a long time, it can be harmful to your health.