Polonium
Polonium, Po, is a metallic main group element, found in
Group VIb of
the periodic table.
- Atomic Number : 84
- Relative Atomic Mass : 210 approximately
Polonium is radioactive with a half-life of 138 days.
Discovery
Polonium was discovered by
Madame Curie in 1898AD.
Occurrence
Polonium occurs
- as a trace component of pitchblende,
- as a breakdown product of the radioactive decay of radium
and is itself radioactive with a half-life of 138 days, and
- may be isolated from radon gas, which is used to treat
cancer in hospitals.
Properties
Polonium has similar chemical properties to Selenium
and Tellurium.
Reactions
Polonium forms a hydride, PoH3, and several oxides are known,
PoO, PoO2 and Po2O3.
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