Polonium
⚛️ In Your World
Polonium is an incredibly rare and highly radioactive element. Due to its intense radioactivity, it has very few uses. It has been used as a lightweight heat source for thermoelectric generators in space probes and as a source of alpha particles for scientific research. It is also found in anti-static brushes used to neutralize static electricity on materials like photographic film.
📖 The Discovery Story
Polonium was discovered in 1898 by Marie and Pierre Curie during their investigation of the radioactivity of pitchblende. After painstakingly processing tons of the ore, they isolated a new substance that was far more radioactive than uranium. Marie Curie named the new element "polonium" in honor of her native land, Poland (Polonia in Latin), which at the time was under Russian, Prussian, and Austrian partition and did not exist as an independent country.
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Melting Point | 254 °C / 489 °F |
| Boiling Point | 962 °C / 1764 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴5d¹⁰6s²6p⁴ |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | Essentially zero |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
Polonium is one of the most dangerous and toxic substances known. It is an intense alpha emitter, making it extremely radiotoxic. An amount as small as a grain of salt can be lethal if ingested or inhaled. It must be handled only in specialized facilities with sophisticated equipment to prevent any exposure.