88 Ra 226

Radium

alkaline earth metal

Properties

Atomic number
88
Atomic mass
226 u
Category
alkaline earth metal
Group
2
Period
7
Block
s-block
State (room temp)
Solid
Outer-shell electrons
2
Electronegativity
0.9 (Pauling)
Density
5.5 g/cm³
Melting point
959.85 °C
Boiling point
1736.85 °C

Electron configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p⁶ 7s²

Noble-gas shorthand: [Rn] 7s²

Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 8, 2, which is 2 in the outermost shell.

Related: electron configuration, the Bohr model, valence electrons.

Ra
Bohr model; outer-shell electrons in blue

About Radium

Radium is a chemical element with symbol Ra and atomic number 88. It is the sixth element in group 2 of the periodic table, also known as the alkaline earth metals. Pure radium is almost colorless, but it readily combines with nitrogen (rather than oxygen) on exposure to air, forming a black surface layer of radium nitride (Ra3N2).

Radium: frequently asked questions

What is Radium?
Radium (Ra) is the chemical element with atomic number 88. It is a metal: specifically an alkaline earth metal.
What is the atomic number of Radium?
Radium's atomic number is 88, which means every Radium atom has 88 protons in its nucleus.
What is the electron configuration of Radium?
The electron configuration of Radium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 (noble-gas shorthand: [Rn] 7s2). Its electrons are arranged in shells of 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 8, 2, with 2 in the outermost shell.
Is Radium a metal or a nonmetal?
Radium is a metal: specifically an alkaline earth metal.
What group and period is Radium in?
Radium is in group 2 and period 7 of the periodic table.
Is Radium a solid, liquid, or gas?
At room temperature, Radium is a solid.

Position in the periodic table

Open the interactive periodic table →

Data compiled from Wikipedia, PubChem, and IUPAC. Source.