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:
This reaction also produces radium nitride and possibly radium peroxide:

Chemical properties

Radium oxide can react with water to form radium hydroxide:

Uses

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