Plutonium Appearance & Characteristics. Radioactive and toxic. Plutonium is a silvery radioactive metal that tarnishes in air to give a yellow oxide coating. It has six allotropic forms, which vary widely in crystal structure and density. The metal is chemically reactive, forming compounds with the halogens, carbon, nitrogen, and silicon.
Rickets is a condition that affects bone development in children. It causes the bones to become soft and can lead to bone deformities. It is often characterised by an appearance of bowed legs. In adults, it is known as osteomalacia or soft bones.
It is caused by a lack of vitamin D and calcium and can usually be easily treated. Rickets causes the bones to become painful, soft and weak. This leads to deformities of the skeleton, such as bowed legs, curvature of the spine and thickening of the ankles, wrists and knees Photo: ALAMY.