Radium oxide

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:


 * 2Ra + O2 -> 2RaO

This reaction also produces radium nitride and possibly radium peroxide:


 * 3Ra + N2 -> Ra3N2
 * Ra + O2 -> RaO2

Chemical properties
Radium oxide can react with water to form radium hydroxide:


 * RaO + H2O -> Ra(OH)2

Uses
It is often used as a precursor to create other radium compounds that are used in radiation therapy.