Yes. Radium is a metal, classified as an alkaline earth metal on the periodic table.

How many protons does radium have?

Radium has 88 protons. Its atomic number is 88, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of radium.

What group and period is radium in?

Radium is in group 2 and period 7 of the periodic table, in the s-block.

What is the atomic mass of radium?

The atomic mass of radium is 226 u (unified atomic mass units).

Element 88

Radium (Ra)

Alkaline earth metal · Period 7 · Group 2 · s-block

Radium (Ra) is element 88 of the periodic table, an alkaline earth metal in period 7, group 2 (s-block) with an atomic mass of 226 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number: 88
Symbol: Ra
Atomic mass: 226 u
Category: Alkaline earth metals
Period: 7
Group: 2
Block: s-block
Phase at STP: solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p6 7s2
Shorthand configuration: [Rn] 7s2
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 8, 2
Oxidation states: +2

Physical properties

Melting point: 973 K (699.85 °C)
Boiling point: 2,010 K (1,736.85 °C)
Density: 5.5 g/cm³
Phase: solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling): 0.9
Atomic radius: 283 pm
Covalent radius: 221 pm
Van der Waals radius: 283 pm
First ionization energy: 509 kJ/mol
Electron affinity: 10 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

Notable isotopes of Radium: mass number, atomic mass, natural abundance, and stability.
Isotope	Mass	Abundance	Stability
Ra-226	226.02541	-	Half-life 1600 years

Common uses

Cancer treatment
Luminous paints (historical)
Research

Discovery

Year: 1898
Discovered by: Marie Curie, Pierre Curie
Country: France

Frequently asked questions

Is radium a metal?: Yes. Radium is a metal, classified as an alkaline earth metal on the periodic table.
How many protons does radium have?: Radium has 88 protons. Its atomic number is 88, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of radium.
What group and period is radium in?: Radium is in group 2 and period 7 of the periodic table, in the s-block.
What is the atomic mass of radium?: The atomic mass of radium is 226 u (unified atomic mass units).

Keep exploring

Radium's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.