| Reactions of Radium |
Reactions with water |
| It is thought that reacts very readily with water to form radium hydroxide, Ra(OH)2 and hydrogen gas (H2). |
Ra(s) + 2H2O(g) Ra(OH)2(aq) + H2(g) |
Reactions with air |
| The surface of radium metal is covered with a thin layer of oxide that helps protect the metal from attack by air, but to a lesser extent than the corresponding layer in magnesium. |
2Ra(s) + O2(g) 2RaO(s) |
Ra(s) + O2(g) RaO2(s) |
2Ra(s) + N2(g) 2Ra3N2(s) |
| Reduction Potentials | |
| Balanced half-reaction | E0 / V |
Ra2+ + 2e- Ra(s) |
-2.92 |