Question

What is the nature of the oxide of radium?

Answer 1

Radium:

• Radium is a chemical element having an atomic number $88$ and an atomic symbol $\mathrm{Ra}$.
• It belongs to Group-$2$ and seventh period.
• Radium belongs to alkaline earth metals, thus the nature of the oxide of radium is alkaline.

Reaction for the formation of Radium oxide:

• When radium metal reacts in the air it gives a white mixture of radium oxide.
• The chemical reaction can be depicted as:

$2\mathrm{Ra}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 2\mathrm{RaO}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$

Nature of oxide of radium:

• As radium oxide is a metallic oxide, thus it is basic in nature.
• As basic oxides on reaction with dilute acid form salt and water.