Polonium Facts - Element 84 or Po

Polonium (Po or Element 84) is one of the radioactive elements discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie. This rare element has no stable isotopes. Its found in uranium ores and cigarette smoke and also occurs as a decay product of heavier elements. Although there arent many applications for the element, it is used to generate heat from radioactive decay for space probes. The element is used as a neutron and alpha source and in anti-static devices. Polonium has also been used as a poison to commit assassinations. Although the position of element 84 on the periodic table would lead to categorization as a metalloid, its properties are those of a true metal. PoloniumBasic Facts Symbol: Po Atomic Number: 84 Discovery: Curie 1898 Atomic weight: [208.9824] Electron configuration: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 Classification: semi-metal Ground level: 3P2 Polonium Physical Data Ionization potential: 8.414 ev Physical form: Silvery metal Melting point: 254Â °C Boiling point: 962Â °C Density: 9.20 g/cm3 Valence: 2, 4 References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC (2006)