Radium bromide

Radium bromide is the bromide salt of radium, with the formula

RaBr2. It is produced during the process of separating radium from Radium bromide[1][2]
uranium ore. This inorganic compound was discovered by Pierre and
Marie Curie in 1898, and the discovery sparked a huge interest in
radiochemistry and radiotherapy. Since elemental radium oxidizes
readily in air and water, radium salts are the preferred chemical form
of radium to work with.[3] Even though it is more stable than
Radium bromide
elemental radium, radium bromide is still extremely toxic, and can
explode under certain conditions.[4] Names
IUPAC name
radium bromide
Contents Other names
radium bromide
History
Identifiers
Properties
CAS Number 10031-23-9 (http://w
Production
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Hazards y.org/ChemicalDetai
Uses l.aspx?ref=10031-23
See also -9)

References 3D model Interactive image (ht

(JSmol)
tps://chemapps.stola
f.edu/jmol/jmol.php?
History model=Br%5BRa%5
DBr)
After the Curies discovered radium (in the form of radium chloride)
ChemSpider 20138062 (http://ww
in 1898, scientists began to isolate radium on an industrial scale,
with the intent of using it for radiotherapy treatments. Radium salts, w.chemspider.com/C
including radium bromide, were most often used by placing the hemical-Structure.20
chemical in a tube that was then passed over or inserted into 138062.html)
diseased tissue in the body. Many of the first scientists to try to
ECHA 100.030.066 (https://
determine radium's uses were affected by their exposure to the
InfoCard echa.europa.eu/sub
radioactive material. Pierre Curie went so far as to self-inflict a
severe chemical skin reaction by applying a radium source directly stance-information/-/
to his forearm, which ultimately created a skin lesion.[5] All types of substanceinfo/100.0
therapeutic tests were performed for different skin diseases including 30.066)
eczema, lichen and psoriasis. Later, it was hypothesized that radium UNII R74O7T8569 (http
could be used to treat cancerous diseases.
s://fdasis.nlm.nih.go
However, during this time frame, radium also gained popularity v/srs/srsdirect.jsp?re
among pseudoscientific "health remedy" industries, which promoted gno=R74O7T8569)
radium as an essential element that could "heal" and "reinvigorate"
cells in the human body and remove poisonous substances. As a CompTox DTXSID40881395 (h
result, radium gained popularity as a "health trend" in the 1920s and Dashboard
ttps://comptox.epa.g
radium salts were added to food, drinks, clothing, toys, and even (EPA)
toothpaste.[6] Furthermore, many respectable journals and ov/dashboard/DTXSI
newspapers in the early 1900s published statements claiming that D40881395)
radium posed no health hazard.
InChI
The main problem with the explosion of interest in radium was the InChI=1S/2BrH.Ra/h2*1H;/q;;+2/p-2
Key: GIKWXTHTIQCTIH-UHFFFAOYSA-L
lack of radium on earth itself. In 1913, it was reported that the
Radium Institute had four grams of radium total, which at the time InChI=1/2BrH.Ra/h2*1H;/q;;+2/p-2
Key: GIKWXTHTIQCTIH-NUQVWONBAJ
was more than half the world supply.[6] Numerous countries and
institutions across the world set out to extract as much radium as SMILES
possible, a time-consuming and expensive task. It was reported in Br[Ra]Br
Science magazine in 1919 that the United States had produced
Properties
approximately 55 grams of radium since 1913, which was also more
than half the radium produced in the world at the time.[7] A principal Chemical RaBr2
source for radium is pitchblende, which holds a total of 257 mg of formula
radium per ton of U3O8.[3] With so little product recovered from Molar mass 385.782 g/mol
such a large amount of material, it was difficult to extract a large Appearance white orthorhombic
quantity of radium. This was the reason radium bromide became one crystals
of the most expensive materials on earth. In 1921, it was stated in
Time magazine that one ton of radium cost 17,000,000,000 Euros, Density 5.79 g/cm3
whereas one ton of gold cost 208,000 Euros and one ton of diamond Melting point 728 °C (1,342 °F;
cost 400,000,000 Euros.[6] 1,001 K)

Radium bromide was also found to induce phosphorescence at Boiling point 900 °C (1,650 °F;
normal temperatures.[8] This led to the US army manufacturing and 1,170 K) sublimes
supplying luminous watches and gun sights to soldiers. It also Solubility in 70.6 g/100 g at 20°C
allowed for the invention of the spinthariscope, which soon became water
a popular household item.[9] Related compounds
Other anions Radium chloride
Properties Hazards
Main hazards Radioactive, highly
Radium bromide is a luminous chemical that causes the air
surrounding it, even when encased in a tube, to glow a brilliant green toxic, explosive,
and demonstrate all bands of the nitrogen spectrum. It is possible dangerous for the
that the effect of the alpha radiation on the nitrogen in the air causes environment
this luminescence. Radium bromide is highly reactive and crystals GHS
can sometimes explode, especially if heated. Helium gas evolved pictograms
from alpha particles can accumulate within the crystals, which can
cause them to weaken and rupture.

Radium bromide will crystallize when separated from aqueous

solution. It forms a dihydrate, very similar to barium bromide.[4] NFPA 704
(fire diamond) 0
4 3
Production
Radium bromide is not found in nature; it is created. To extract Except where otherwise noted, data
are given for materials in their
radium from uranium or pitchblende ores, the most common practice standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F],
is the "Curie method", which involves two major stages. The first 100 kPa).
stage is treating uranium ore with a chemical to concentrate the
verify (what is ?)
radium as a combination of radium and barium. This is done by
treating the ore with a barium salt and sulfuric acid which make the Infobox references
uranium, iron, copper, and other components within the ore become
water-soluble and are drained away. A residue containing gangue, barium, radium, and lead sulfates is left
over. The mixture will then be treated with sodium chloride and sodium carbonate to remove the lead and
convert radium and barium into carbonates that are insoluble in hydrochloric acid.

The second step requires fractional crystallization to separate the barium from the radium.[3] Because
radium and barium have different miscibility in bromine or chlorine, those two chemicals are chosen for the
fractional crystallization, and enables the two elements to be separated, leaving behind an aqueous solution
of radium bromide or radium chloride. Once the radium is separated, the aqueous radium solution is
dehydrated with a dry air stream at 200°C, leaving behind crystals of radium bromide.[4] Another method is
to heat radium chloride and dehydrate it with a dry hydrogen bromide gas stream, but this method is
considered more dangerous due to hydrogen bromide's toxicity and corrosive proterties.[4]

Hazards
Radium bromide, like all radium compounds, is highly radioactive and very toxic. Due to its chemical
similarity to calcium, radium tends to accumulate in the bones, where it irradiates the bone marrow and can
cause anemia, leukemia, sarcoma, bone cancer, genetic defects, infertility, ulcers, and necrosis. Symptoms
of poisoning can take years to develop, by which time it is usually too late for any effective medical
treatment. Radium bromide also poses a severe environmental hazard, amplified due to its high solubility in
water, and it can bioaccumulate and cause long-lasting damage to organisms.

Radium bromide is highly reactive, and crystals can explode if violently shocked or heated. This is, in part,
due to self-damage of the crystals by alpha radiation, which weakens the lattice structure.

Uses
Radium and radium salts were commonly used for treating cancer; however, these treatments have been
mostly phased out in favor of less toxic chemicals such as technetium or strontium-89.[6] Radium bromide
was also used in luminous paint on watches, but its use was ultimately phased out in the 1960-1970s in favor
of less dangerous chemicals like promethium and tritium.

See also
Radiation therapy
Ionizing radiation
Radiology

References
1. Lide, David R. (1998). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press. pp. 4–78. ISBN 0-8493-0594-2.
2. Chemical Compounds (Inorganic); B-Table, Record No. 2630. International Critical Tables of
Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology (1st Electronic Edition). 2000
3. Babcock, A.B., Jr. Survey of Processes for Radium Recovery from Pitchblende Ores. AEC
Research and Development Report. 23 Feb 1950. No. NYO—112
4. Kirby,H.W; Salutsky, Murrell L. The Radiochemistry of Radium. Energy Citations Database Dec
1964.[1] (https://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?query_id=0&page=0&osti_isd
=4560824)
 5. Dutreix, Jean; Pierquin, Bernard; Tubiana, Maurice. The Hazy Dawn of Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy and Oncology (49) 1998 223-232
6. Harvie, David I. The Radium Century. Endeavor 1999 Vol. 23, Issue 3: 100-105
7. Voil, Charles H. Radium Production. Science 17 March 1919 Vol. 49, No 1262: 227-228
8. 100 and 50 years ago. Nature 24 July 2003 Vol. 424, Issue 6927: 381
9. Schwarcz, Joe. A Dazzling display in a little jar. The Gazette: Saturday Extra; The Right
Chemistry pg B5

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