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radium |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Radium \Ra`di*um\, n. [NL., fr L. radius ray.] (Chem.) An intensely radioactive metallic element found (combined) in minute quantities in pitchblende, and various other uranium minerals. Symbol, Ra atomic weight, 226.4. Radium was discovered by M. and Mme. Curie, of Paris, who in 1902 separated compounds of it by a tedious process from pitchblende. Its compounds color flames carmine and give a characteristic spectrum. It resembles barium chemically. Radium preparations are remarkable for maintaining themselves at a higher temperature than their surroundings, and for their radiations, which are of three kinds: alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays (see these terms). By reason of these rays they ionize gases, affect photographic plates, cause sores on the skin, and produce many other striking effects. Their degree of activity depends on the proportion of radium present, but not on its state of chemical combination or on external conditions.The radioactivity of radium is therefore an atomic property, and is explained as result from a disintegration of the atom. This breaking up occurs in at least seven stages; the successive main products have been studied and are called {radium emanation} or exradio {radium A}, {radium B}, {radium C}, etc (The emanation is a heavy gas, the later products are solids.) These products are regarded as unstable elements, each with an atomic weight a little lower than its predecessor. It is possible that lead is the stable end product. At the same time the light gas helium is formed; it probably consists of the expelled alpha particles. The heat effect mentioned above is ascribed to the impacts of these particles. Radium, in turn, is believed to be formed indirectly by an immeasurably slow disintegration of uranium. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: radium n : an intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores [syn: {Ra}, {atomic number 88}] From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: Radium, KS (city, FIPS 58300) Location: 38.17369 N, 98.89386 W Population (1990): 47 (23 housing units) Area: 0.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 67550 Radium, MN Zip code(s): 56762 From Elements database 20001107 [elements]: radium Symbol: Ra Atomic number: 88 Atomic weight: (226) Radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to group 2 of the periodic table. Most stable isotope, Ra-226 has a half-life of 1602 years, which decays into radon. Isolated from pitchblende in 1898 Marie and Pierre Curie. From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: RADIUM, n. A mineral that gives off heat and stimulates the organ that a scientist is a fool with
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