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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Polonium - Po

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Polonium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Polonium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

Polonium Menu

• Polonium Page One
  • Overview of Polonium
  • Polonium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Polonium
  • Chemical Properties of Polonium
  • Physical Properties of Polonium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Polonium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides

Overview of Polonium

• Atomic Number: 84
• Group: 16
• Period: 6
• Series: Metalloids (Metals)

Polonium's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Polonium
• Czech: Polonium
• Croatian: Polonij
• French: Polonium
• German: Polonium - s
• Italian: Polonio
• Norwegian: Polonium
• Portuguese: Polônio
• Russian: Полоний
• Spanish: Polonio
• Swedish: Polonium

Atomic Structure of Polonium

• Atomic Radius: 1.53Å
• Atomic Volume: 22.23cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.46Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) σ_a/barns: 0.03
• Crystal Structure: Monoclinic

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d¹⁰ 4s²p⁶d¹⁰f¹⁴ 5s²p⁶d¹⁰ 6s²p⁴

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,18,32,18,6

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 2.3Å
• Filling Orbital: 6p⁴
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 84
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 125
• Number of Protons: 84
• Oxidation States: 4,2
• Valence Electrons: 6s²p⁴

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Polonium

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 3.8986g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function:
• Electronegativity: 2 (Pauling); 1.76 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 60.1kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 8.42
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): -12.5

Physical Properties of Polonium

• Atomic Mass Average: 208.9824
• Boiling Point: 1235K 962°C 1764°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 23E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.0219 10⁶/cm Ω
  Thermal: 0.2 W/cmK

• Density: 9.3g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Radioactive and fairly volatile silvery grey metal that dissolves in dilute acids.

• Enthalpy of Atomization: 134 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 60.3 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class:
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Heat of Vaporization: kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 527K 254°C 489°F
• Molar Volume: 22.73 cm³/mole
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.12J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 0.0176Pa@254°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7440-08-6
• NFPA 704
  • Health:
  • Fire:
  • Reactivity:
  • Special Hazard: Radioactive<
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
    • No limits set by OSHA
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
    • No limits set by OSHA
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
    • No limits set by NIOSH
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm^-3: nil
    • Bone/p.p.m: nil
    • Liver/p.p.m: nil
    • Muscle/p.p.m: nil
    • Daily Dietary Intake: nil
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: nil

  Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: Marie Curie
  • Discovery Location: Paris France
  • Discovery Year: 1898
  • Name Origin:

    Named after Poland, the home country of Marie Curie.

  • Abundance of Polonium:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Seawater/p.p.m.: nil
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): N/A
  • Sources of Polonium:

    Occursin trace amounts in uranium ores. World wide production is very small and probably less than 100 grams per year.

  • Uses of Polonium:

    Used for nuclear batteries, neutron source, antistatic agents, film cleaner.

  • Additional Notes:

  Polonium Menu

  • Polonium Page One
    • Overview of Polonium
    • Polonium's Name in Other Languages
    • Atomic Structure of Polonium
    • Chemical Properties of Polonium
    • Physical Properties of Polonium
    • Regulatory / Health
    • Who/When/Where/How
  • Polonium Page Two
    • Nuclides / Isotopes
    • Potential Parent Nuclides

  References

  A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

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  Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Polonium - Po. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2024. Accessed on-line: 4/18/2024
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