Radium has gained a tremendous scientific importance with a gigantic contribution in research of radioactivity. For a very long time it was a single element used in radio medicine, constant glow phosphors manufacturing and so on. In 30-ths of 20th century its output reached 350 g per year. However in 1950-s radium was substituted by cheaper radionuclides. Nowadays it is used as a source of Radon for radon baths and in encapsulated sources of neutrons.
In geology 228Ra and other isotopes are used for determination age of ocean sedimentary rocks. 226Ra and 228Ra are used as indicators of ocean water circulation and mixing. |