What is radium? Detailed answer

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What is radium? Detailed answer

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What is radium?

Radium is a radioactive element. Let's look at what "radioactive" is.

All chemical elements are made up of atoms. Most atoms are stable, which means they don't change. But some of the heaviest atoms decay and turn into others. This decay is called "radioactivity".

Each radioactive element, when decaying, emits certain rays with a certain frequency. This frequency cannot be accelerated or slowed down in any way. Some elements decay quickly, others slowly, but in any case this phenomenon is not subject to man.

Radium decays to eventually form lead. For example, half a gram of radium will turn into atoms of another substance with a lower atomic weight in 1590 years. After another 1590 years, the remaining radium will be converted, and so on until all the radium becomes lead.

Radium was discovered by the Curies. They were refining tons of uranite, an ore containing uranium. It was known that uranium emitted invisible rays, but they believed that there must be another more powerful element. First they managed to get polonium, another radioactive element, and finally they isolated radium.

Radium emits three types of radiation - alpha, beta and gamma rays. Alpha radiation is helium particles that have a high speed. Beta radiation is fast electrons. Gamma rays are similar to X-rays, but have more penetrating power. When one of these radiations is emitted, the atom that is its source is transformed into another element. This change is called "atomic transformation".

Why is radioactivity dangerous to humans? Imagine these flying particles of destroyed atoms. When these particles hit other atoms, they cause them to collapse, changing their chemical characteristics. And when these particles enter the living cells of the body, they lead to their changes! They can burn and destroy the skin, destroy red blood cells, and also cause changes in other cells.

Therefore, radioactivity can be both beneficial and dangerous to humans.

Author: Likum A.

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

What are teeth for?

Do you brush your teeth twice a day? If you clean them and do it well, then it is not surprising that your teeth do not fall out. They are dense and strong, like a stone. Each tooth consists of two parts: one or more roots fixed in the jaws, and a crown, part of which is visible in the mouth.

Teeth are mainly composed of mineral salts such as calcium and phosphorus. The crown is covered with hard and shiny enamel. The root covers the cementum, a bone-like material. Dentin, a material similar to ivory, forms the body, or body, of the tooth.

Dental pulp (pulp) - the contents of the crown and root cavities of the tooth. The pulp is made up of the same tissue as the nerves, arteries, and veins. It enters the tooth through a hole at the end of the root. If you've looked at your teeth in a mirror, you've probably noticed that they differ in shape and size.

There are 4 types of teeth, each with a specific purpose. The incisors, located in the center of the mouth, bite or cut food. The fangs tear off food and are located on opposite sides of the incisors. They have long strong roots and pointed crowns.

Small molars (premolars) are located immediately behind the canines, have two sharp tips and one or two roots. Premolars grind food. Large molars (molars) are located in the very depths of the mouth, have several pointed ends and two or three roots. Molars grind food.

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