Radium-226 is widely used in the manufacture of medical equipment like calibrators, lightening rods, lightening rods, etc. One gram of the element is capable of producing 0.0001 ml (stp) of radon gas. Radium is used in industrial production of radon gas.
This strategy is used in cell-directed immunotherapy for treating cancer. These radioactive coated antibodies target surface antigens and the beta particles emitted from lead-212, and alpha particles from bismuth-212 are capable of destroying the cancer cells. Antibodies labeled with these two products are used in the treatment of melanoma and ovarian cancer. Experiments with radium-224 have been carried out in the United States for producing bismuth-212 and lead-212. In the year 2006, chloride injection with radium-224 was approved in Germany for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, but in recent times it is not used. Radiation therapies in many hospitals are done with the help of radon, which is produced after decomposition of radium. Treatment is also carried out by combining radium bromide with radium chloride. It is used primarily to treat small cancers. Important to note, radium bromide, a vital compound, has extensive application in medical field. Since it emits gamma rays, it was used in treatment of cancer. However, using it to treat mental disorders and rheumatism showed health hazards and it was forbidden, until any sustained research confirmed its safe application. It showed healing effects in many health disorders. Use of radium in the field of medicine began in the 19th century. Due to lack of protective measures, this element showed adverse effects and detectable radioactive decay problems. However its application was prohibited under the law, as the radioactive paints caused death of many people, who have been using those items. Chemical studies show that 1 gram of radium-226 undergoes 3.7 x 10 10 disintegrations/second.Įarlier radium was used in self-luminous paints, aircraft switches, clocks, nuclear panels, and instrument dials.
When it is mixed with beryllium, it produces neutrons.
It occurs along with uranium and extensive processing of Uranium ore has to be carried out in order to obtain Radium. It is also mined from carnotite sands of Colorado. Rich ores are found in the Great Lake region, Canada, and Republic of Zaire. Radium was originally found in pitchblende ore, occurring in large amounts in Joachimsthal, Bohemia. This radioactive element finds application in industries and medical sector. The atomic number of radium is 88 and its atomic weight is 226. Its symbol is Ra and it shows intense radioactivity. It is the heaviest of all alkaline earth metals in the periodic table. It was derived from the Latin word, radius which means ‘ray’. They found this element in pitchblende, occurring in North Bohemia. Radium was discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre Curie in the year 1898.