Element Family
Alkaline Earth
Post-Transition
Space Group Name
Fm_ 3m
Pm-3m
Interesting Facts
- Strontium element is softer than Calcium.
- Silvery Strontium turns yellow, if exposed to air.
- 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.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
Mining, Ores of metals
Who Discovered
William Cruickshank
Pierre Curie and Marie Curie
Discovery
In 1787
In 1898
Abundance In Meteorites
-
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- Strontium metal is used to producing ferrite magnets as well as refining zinc.
-
By-product of nuclear reactors called Strontium-90 is a radioactive isotope; it is absorbed by tissues and destroys bone marrow and cancer growth.
- 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.
Industrial Uses
Ammunition Industry, Chemical Industry
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry
Toxicity
Non Toxic
Highly Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
No
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Color
Silvery White
Silver
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, Radioactivity, Solubility
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 5s2
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4
Crystal Structure
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Monoclinic (MON)
Crystal Lattice
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Strontium.jpg#100
MON-Crystal-Structure-of-Polonium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
π/2, π/2, π/2
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
-
-
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Nonmagnetic
Electrical Property
-
Conductor