The Element Polonium


Polonium occurs in uranium ores and resembles tellurium and bismuth. It is a rare, highly radioactive metalloid which is unstable. It is also renowned as the element with most amounts of isotopes, all of which are radioactive. Another notable physical characteristic of polonium is that it readily dissolves in dilute acids and is slightly soluble in alkalis.

When polonium is alloyed with beryllium it can become a neutron source. Therefore, polonium is widely used in its latter capacity as a neutron trigger or initiator for nuclear weapons. Other industrial uses of the element are its usage in devices that eliminates static charges and in getting rid of dust or film. However, be forewarned that due to its high toxicity polonium can also be used as a poison.

Atomic Number & Chemical Properties


Element Basics:

Chemical Symbol: Po
Atomic Number: 84
Atomic Weight: 208.9824
Element Classification: Semimetallic
Discovered By: Pierre and Marie Curie-Sklodowska
Date of Discovery: 1898 (France/Poland)
Origin of Name: Named for Poland, native country of Marie Curie.

How to Recognize it at a Party:

Silvery-gray metal

Seriously Atomic Information:

Density (g/cc): 9.32
Melting Point (°K): 527
Boiling Point (°K): 1235
Atomic Radius (pm): 176
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 22.7
Covalent Radius (pm): 146
Ionic Radius: 67 (+6e)
Pauling Negativity Number: 2.0
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 813.1
Oxidation States: 6, 4, 2
Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4

Getting Intimate with Polonium:

Lattice Structure: Simple Cubic (SC)
Lattice Constant (Å): 3.350
Lattice C/A Ratio: n/a
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 0.125
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): (10)
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): (102.9)
Thermal Conductivity (@25°C W/m K):
Debye Temperature (°K): n/a


Society's Questions About Polonium:

Have you ever wondered what everyone else in the world thinks about Polonium? Is anyone else looking for it too? If so, why? What do they want?

The following list shows the most common online questions about the element Polonium. Are your questions the same or different from everyone else's?

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