Symbol
Po
  
Hg
  
Period Number
6
  
6
  
Block
p block
  
d block
  
Element Family
Post-Transition
  
Transition Metal
  
Space Group Name
Pm-3m
  
R_ 3m
  
Interesting Facts
- Polonium was the first radioactive element to be discovered.
- Polonium element and its compounds are highly radioactive.
- Its alloy with Beryllium provides source of neutrons.
  
- At room temperature mercury is found in a liquid state.
- A coin of pound or rupees floats in mercury.
- Because of its low melting point and boiling point it is used in thermometers.
  
Sources
Mining, Ores of metals
  
Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Pierre Curie and Marie Curie
  
Ancient Chinese and Indians
  
Discovery
In 1898
  
Before 2000 BCE
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Not Available
  
Abundance In Oceans
Not Available
  
Uses & Benefits
- Polonium metal has different Allotropes, it is used in antistatic devices and for research purpose.
- A 1 gram of Polonium can reach a temperature of 500°C, hence it is used as a heat source for space equipment.
  
- It is a liquid metal at room temperature, but it is a toxic heavy metal and hence many uses of mercury are under review or phased out.
- It is manly used as a catalysts in chemical industry.
  
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry
  
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Medical Uses
NA
  
Dentistry
  
Other Uses
Alloys
  
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Industry
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Highly Toxic
  
Highly Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
No
  
Yes
  
In Blood
0.00 Blood/mg dm-3
  
37
0.01 Blood/mg dm-3
  
23
In Bone
0.00 p.p.m.
  
36
0.45 p.p.m.
  
19
Melting Point
Not Available
  
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Liquid
  
Color
Silver
  
Silver
  
Luster
NA
  
NA
  
Hardness
  
  
Speed of Sound
Not Available
  
1,451.40 m/s
  
99+
Optical Properties
  
  
Refractive Index
Not Available
  
Reflectivity
Not Available
  
Allotropes
Yes
  
No
  
α Allotropes
α-polonium
  
Not Available
  
β Allotropes
β-polonium
  
Not Available
  
γ Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Chemical Formula
Po
  
Hg
  
Isotopes
  
  
Electronegativity
  
  
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Electropositivity
  
  
Pauling Electropositivity
Ionization Energies
  
  
1st Energy Level
812.10 kJ/mol
  
14
1,007.10 kJ/mol
  
4
2nd Energy Level
Not Available
  
1,810.00 kJ/mol
  
20
3rd Energy Level
Not Available
  
3,300.00 kJ/mol
  
20
Electrochemical Equivalent
3.90 g/amp-hr
  
8
3.74 g/amp-hr
  
10
Electron Work Function
Not Available
  
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
  
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4
  
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
  
Crystal Structure
Monoclinic (MON)
  
Rhombohedral (RHO)
  
Crystal Lattice
MON-Crystal-Structure-of-Polonium.jpg#100
  
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Mercury.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Atomic Volume
22.23 cm3/mol
  
13
14.82 cm3/mol
  
35
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
Not Available
  
28.20 (-eV)
  
99+
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
  
NA
  
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Density
  
  
Density At Room Temperature
9.20 g/cm3
  
99+
13.53 g/cm3
  
24
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Not Available
  
Tensile Strength
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Poisson Ratio
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Other Mechanical Properties
NA
  
NA
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Nonmagnetic
  
Diamagnetic
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Conductor
  
Conductor
  
Electrical Conductivity
0.02 106/cm Ω
  
99+
0.01 106/cm Ω
  
99+
Electron Affinity
183.30 kJ/mol
  
3
0.00 kJ/mol
  
40
Specific Heat
0.12 J/(kg K)
  
40
0.14 J/(kg K)
  
38
Molar Heat Capacity
26.40 J/mol·K
  
28
27.98 J/mol·K
  
13
Thermal Conductivity
20.00 W/m·K
  
99+
8.30 W/m·K
  
99+
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
23.50 µm/(m·K)
  
16
60.40 µm/(m·K)
  
5
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
60.30 kJ/mol
  
99+
56.90 kJ/mol
  
99+
Enthalpy of Fusion
13.00 kJ/mol
  
26
2.29 kJ/mol
  
99+
Enthalpy of Atomization
134.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
61.50 kJ/mol
  
99+
Standard Molar Entropy
Not Available
  
75.80 J/mol.K
  
6