Po
Polonium
POLONIUM
CHALCOGENS ELEMENT
| Atomic number: | 84 |
| Group numbers: | 16 |
| Period: | 6 |
| Electronic configuration: | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 |
| Formal oxidation number: | +2 +4 |
| Electronegativities: | 2 |
| Atomic radius / pm: | 167.3 |
| Relative atomic mass: | - |
Polonium was discovered by Marie Sklodowska Curie and Pierre Curie (FR) in 1898. Named for Poland, native country of Marie Curie. It is a silvery-grey, extremely rare, highly toxic, severe radiotoxic, carcinogen, radioactive metal that is soluble in dilute acids. Polonium occurs in pitchblende. It's produced by bombarding bismuth with neutrons. It is used in industrial equipment that eliminates static electricity caused by such processes as rolling paper, wire and sheet metal.
| Density / g dm-3: | 9320 | (alpha, 293 K) |
| Molar volume / cm3mol-1: | 22.42 | (alpha, 293 K) |
| Electrical resistivity / µΩcm: | 140 | (20 °C) |
| Thermal conductivity / W m-1K-1: | 20 |
| Melting point / °C: | 254 |
| Boiling point / °C: | 962 |
| Heat of fusion / kJ mol-1: | 10 |
| Heat of vaporization / kJ mol-1: | 100.8 |
| Heat of atomization / kJ mol-1: | 141 |
| First ionization energy / kJ mol-1: | 812.09 |
| Second ionization energy / kJ mol-1: | - |
| Third ionization energy / kJ mol-1: | - |
| in the atmosphere / ppm: | - |
| in the Earth's crust / ppm: | - |
| in the oceans / ppm: | - |
| Crystal structure: | simple cubic |
| Unit-cell dimensions / pm: | a=335.2 |
| Space group: | Pm3m |
| Isotope | Relative atomic mass | Mass percent (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 208Po | 207.981 25(2) | * |
| 209Po | 208.982 43(2) | * |
| 210Po | 209.982 874(8) | * |
| Balanced half-reaction | Eo / V | |
|---|---|---|
| 83 Bismuth | ← | 84 Polonium | → | 85 Astatine |
Citing this page:
Generalic, Eni. "Polonium." EniG. Periodic Table of the Elements. KTF-Split, 13 Feb. 2025. Web. 27 Mar. 2025. <https://www.periodni.com/po.html>.
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