Actinium is a chemical element with the symbol Ac and atomic number 89. It is a radioactive metal that is silvery-white in color and is found in nature as a decay product of uranium and thorium. Actinium has a unique set of properties that make it useful in a variety of applications, including nuclear medicine, research, and industry.
Definitions
Actinium is defined as a rare, silvery-white, radioactive metal that is found in nature as a decay product of uranium and thorium. It has a half-life of 21.77 years and is used in nuclear medicine, research, and industry.
Origin
Actinium was discovered in 1899 by French chemist André-Louis Debierne. He isolated the element from pitchblende, a mineral that contains uranium and radium. The name actinium comes from the Greek word aktis, meaning “ray” or “beam,” because of its radioactive properties.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, actinium is defined as “a radioactive metallic element that is used in nuclear medicine and has various isotopes with half-lives ranging from a few days to over 29 years.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines actinium as “a rare, silvery-white, radioactive metal of the actinide series, used in nuclear medicine and research.”
Associations
Actinium is associated with other elements in the actinide series, including uranium, thorium, and plutonium. It is also associated with nuclear medicine, research, and industry.
Synonyms
Synonyms for actinium include element 89, Ac, and radioactive actinium.
Antonyms
Antonyms for actinium include non-radioactive metals and non-actinide elements.
The same root words
The root word for actinium is aktis, which means “ray” or “beam” in Greek. Other words that share this root include actinometer, which measures the intensity of radiation, and actinotherapy, which is a type of radiation therapy used in cancer treatment.
Example Sentences
- Actinium is used in nuclear medicine to treat certain types of cancer.
- The half-life of actinium-227 is 21.77 years.
- Actinium is a rare and valuable element that is used in research and industry.
- The discovery of actinium was a significant milestone in the study of radioactivity.
- The radioactive properties of actinium make it a useful tool for scientific research.