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Polonium
Element 84 · 208.98243 u
Polonium is a highly radioactive element discovered by the Curies.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 208.98243 u |
| Density | 9.32 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 527.0 K |
| Boiling Point | 1235.0 K |
| Appearance | Silvery metallic |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 2.0 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 812.1 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 183.3 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | -2, +2, +4, +6 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 |
| Atomic Radius | 168.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 140.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 197.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Marie Curie, Pierre Curie |
| Discovery Year | 1898 |
| Location | Paris, France |
| Named After | Named after Poland, the homeland of Marie Curie |
About Polonium
Polonium is extremely radioactive with no stable isotopes. A millionth of a gram can be lethal if ingested. Polonium-210 generates significant heat from alpha radiation.
Uses & Applications
Static eliminators, neutron sources, heat sources for space satellites, and nuclear triggers.
Fun Fact
Polonium-210 was used to assassinate former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 208 | - | 2.898 years | No |
| 209 | - | 125.2 years | No |
| 210 | - | 138.376 days | No |
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4