radium

/'reidjəm/

Thân thiện

A scientist carefully handles a sample of radium in a laboratory.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A highly radioactive metallic chemical element: Radium is a naturally occurring, silvery-white metal that is intensely radioactive. It is found in very small quantities in uranium ores.

Usage

• Radium is used as a scientific term in chemistry and physics. It is typically discussed in historical, medical, or scientific contexts due to its radioactivity and past applications.
• It is an uncountable noun when referring to the element as a substance (e.g., "a sample of radium").

Examples

• Noun:
  • Marie Curie discovered the elements polonium and radium.
  • The old watch dials were painted with radium-based paint to make them glow in the dark.
  • Exposure to radium can be extremely hazardous to health.

Advanced Usage

• "Radium therapy": A historical medical treatment using radium's radiation, primarily for certain cancers.
  • Radium therapy was a common treatment in the early 20th century.

Variants and Related Words

• Radon (n): A radioactive gaseous element that is a decay product of radium.
  • Radon gas can accumulate in poorly ventilated basements.

Synonyms

• Element 88: Referring to radium by its atomic number.
• Ra: The chemical symbol for radium.

Notes on Meaning

• Radium is specifically an element (a basic substance) and not a general term for radioactivity. Its primary defining characteristic is its intense radioactivity, which is a key part of its identity and historical significance.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores

Từ đồng nghĩa

• Ra
• atomic number 88