Radium Chloride, RaCl₂

Radium Chloride, RaCl₂, may be obtained as the dihydrate, RaCl₂.2H₂O, by dissolving the carbonate in hydrochloric acid and allowing to crystallise. It may be dehydrated by heating to 100° C. in a platinum crucible for several hours, but it is not decomposed if the temperature be raised to 200° C. It is less soluble in water than barium chloride, and is precipitated by hydrochloric acid and by alcohol.