Radium oxide is an inorganic compound of radium and oxygen with the chemical formula RaO.
Synthesis
The compound can be obtained by heating metallic radium in air:
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This reaction also produces radium nitride and possibly radium peroxide:
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Chemical properties
Radium oxide can react with water to form
radium hydroxide:
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Uses
It is often used as a precursor to create other radium compounds that are used in radiation therapy.
