Ra224

Ra-224 is a radioactive isotope of the element radium (chemical symbol Ra) with atomic number 88 and a mass number of 224. It occurs as a transient member of the thorium-232 decay chain and can also be produced in nuclear reactors or other laboratories. Its half-life is about 3.6 days, making it relatively short-lived compared with other radium nuclides.

Ra-224 decays by alpha emission to radon-220 (thoron). The thoron daughter products that follow are short-lived and quickly progress toward more stable species, ultimately leading to lead-212 (Pb-212) through a short sequence that includes polonium-216 among its intermediates. As a result, the Ra-224 decay chain contributes a temporally brief pulse of alpha activity before reaching a stable end product.

Occurrence and production in nature are limited. Ra-224 is present only in trace amounts within the natural thorium-232 decay series and related materials. It can be generated experimentally by processing thorium-bearing materials or through irradiation in a reactor or accelerator.

Applications are mainly research-oriented due to its short half-life and strong alpha emission. Ra-224 is used in studies of decay chains, detector calibration, and investigations of radiochemical behavior of radium and its daughters. Its rapid decay limits any practical clinical use.

Safety considerations are important: as with other radium isotopes, Ra-224 poses radiological hazards if ingested or inhaled. Its alpha-emitting progeny contribute to radiation dose, and handling requires appropriate shielding, containment, and monitoring in specialized facilities.