Radium oxide

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Radium oxide
Identifiers
3D model (
JSmol
)
  • InChI=1S/O.Ra/q-2;+2
    Key: PLEZGBHMSVTPPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Ra+2].[O-2]
Properties
RaO
Molar mass 242 g/mol
Appearance solid
reacts with water
Related compounds
Related compounds
Barium oxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

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]

2Ra + O2 → 2RaO

This reaction also produces radium nitride and possibly radium peroxide:

3Ra + N2 → Ra3N2
Ra + O2 → RaO2

Chemical properties

Radium oxide can react with water to form radium hydroxide:

RaO + H2O → Ra(OH)2

Uses

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

References