Element Family
Post-Transition
Actinide
Space Group Name
Pm-3m
P63/mmc
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.
- Californium metal is very harmful and highly radioactive.
- Californium metal is the heaviest metal.
Sources
Mining, Ores of metals
Made by Bombarding Curium with Helium Ions
Who Discovered
Pierre Curie and Marie Curie
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Discovery
In 1898
In 1950
Abundance In Meteorites
-
Abundance In Earth's Crust
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.
- Californium metal has a very strong neutron emitter. It is used as a metal detector.
-
It also used as an identifier to check Water and oil layers in oil wells.
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry
Chemical Industry
Other Uses
Alloys
Alloys, Nuclear Research
Toxicity
Highly Toxic
Toxic
Present in Human Body
No
No
Physical State
Solid
Solid
α Allotropes
α-polonium
-
β Allotropes
β-polonium
-
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4
[Rn] 5f10 7s2
Crystal Structure
Monoclinic (MON)
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
Crystal Lattice
MON-Crystal-Structure-of-Polonium.jpg#100
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Californium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
-
Malleable, Sectile
Magnetic Ordering
Nonmagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
-
Enthalpy of Atomization
-