Polonium

Polonium • Metalloid

Symbol: Po
Date of discovery: 1898
Name origin: Poland
Appearance: unknown
Discoverer: Marie and Pierre Curie
Obtained from: pitchblende, radium

Melting point: 527 K
Boiling point: 1235 K
Density[kg/m³]: 9196
Molar volume: 22.97 × 10^-6 m³/mol
Protons/Electrons: 84
Neutrons: 125
Shell structure: 2,8,18,32,18,6
Electron configuration: [Xe]4f145d106s26p4
Oxidation state: 4,2
Crystal structure: monoclinic

Polonium was discovered by the spouses Marie and Pierre Curie. It is named after Poland, the native land of Marie Curie, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. Polonium, being a highly radioactive and toxic element, needs to be handled very carefully with special equipment, as even milligram or microgram amounts are very dangerous. The maximum amount of polonium that can be ingested by the body is about 6.8 x 10^-12 grams. Polonium is used on brushes that eliminate dust that has accumulated on photographic film. It is also used in space satellites as the source of thermoelectric power.