- Silvery-gray colored solid
- Melts at 254 degrees celcius
- Boils at 926 degrees celcius
- Has more isotopes than any other element
Period in Periodic Table: 6
Group: 6A
Family: Semi-Metal (metalloids)
Polonium is radioactive and extremely toxic so it has no household uses. It is used for eliminating static in textile mills and removing dust from photograph films. Polonium is also used in space satellites for thermoelectric power.
NAME: Polonium was named for Poland, the home of discoverer Marie Curie.
DISCOVERY: Polonium was discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898. Its was discovered when they were looking for the cause of radioactivity in pitchblende.
OCCURANCE: Polonium is chemically similar to tellurium and bismuth. It occurs in pitchblende and radium-lead residues. Polonium is extremely rare in nature and can be derived from nuclear radiation of bismuth. It is also called Radium F. Very small amounts of Polonium are found in Uranium ore.
- Polonuim is found in cigarette smoke and is the most toxic part
- Polonium is available commerically from Oak Ridge National Laboratory by special order
- Polonium evaporates very quickly if not kept in a special container
periodic.lanl.gov/elements/84.html
www.chemicool.com/elements/polonium.html
