Radium, Radon, Radiumtherapy

Abstract

RADIUM is the chief member of the uranium series of radioactive elements belonging to the alkaline earth group of elements. Its parent is ionium and its disintegration product is radium emanation or radon. Radium occurs in nature in the salts, radium sulphate, radium chloride and radium bromide which are in combination with uranium compounds in the form of pitchblende and carnotite. The radium salts of commerce are white or greyish powders which glow more or less brightly in the dark. Minute amounts can be found in all soils, rocks, oceans, springs, etc. However, there are places where the element is found in comparatively large quantities. The largest deposits are found in the Belgian Congo. The radium supply in this country has been produced from carnotite ore found most plentifully in Colorado and Utah. To obtain one gram of radium it is necessary to treat 500 tons of carefully selected high grade ore, and in the task nearly 1,000 tons of chemicals must be used. The process is a costly one. The present price of radium is $70,000 per gram. Soon after Roentgen discovered x-rays in 1895, Becquerel of Paris found that certain uranium salts produced rays similar to them. About two years later M. and Mme. Curie