Why is this element important in everyday life?
Radon is used in occasional therapeutic use. It also helps predict earthquakes by the variation in the amount of radon gas in subsurface water near geological faults. It is used in radiation therapy in hospitals.
Where is this element found in nature?
Radon is found underground. It is an intermediate product of the radioactive decay of uranium-238. Radon was discovered in 1900 by F. E. Dorn and was called radium emanation, but when isolated by William Ramsay and Robert Whytlaw-Gray in 1908 it was changed to niton. In 1923 it become radon.
What are the properties of the element?
General Characteristics = At room temperatures it's a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas. When cooled below freezing point it becomes yellow. Although it can form compounds its high radioactivity inhibits any study of its chemical reactions. It can react with Fluorine under extreme conditions. All isotopes are radioactive, but radon-222 is most dangerous because it has the longest half-life (3.8 days). Radon accounts for a little more than half the background radioactivity on Earth.
Atomic Symbol = Rn
Period Number = 6
Group Number and Family Name =Group 18 Noble Gases
Atomic Number = 86
Atomic Mass =(222) *only for the most stable isotope
Density =9.73g/L
Melting Point =-71 degrees C
Boiling Point =-61.8degrees C
Electron Configuration =Rn-1s22s23s22p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f145d106p6
Shorthand Notation =[Xe]6s25f145d106p6
Common Reactions = Reacts with Fluorine on very rare occasions.
Interesting Information =
Radon-222 trapped inside homes may also cause increased radiation exposure. It moves up from soil into homes through cracks and holes in foundation. Since 1970's radon has been detected in homes built on reclined land above uranium mill trailing deposits. Radon gets stuck to dust and smoke and are inhaled into lungs. Over time they cause lung cancer. 5,000 to 2,000 lung cancer deaths may be because of radon.
Short and long term radon tests are available. The short term uses activated charcoal to collect the decay products of radon over several days. It's tested in a laboratory. The long term uses a polymer film. The treatments are both expensive. A more affective way is to install a ventilation duct to draw air from beneath the basement to the outside.
Who is ?
O-Radon, you've killed so many people that you're known as the Silent killer. How do you get away with it?
Rn- I sneak into people's houses through their basements. Since I'm colorless and odorless the people don't even notice me. Then when I decay I produce Polonium-214 and Plolonium-218. They get stuck to dust and smoke and are inhaled into lungs.
O- About how many people have you killed?
Rn- I mainly target smokers. Between the smoke and radon they get lung cancer. 5,000 to 2,000 lung cancer deaths may be because of me.
O- What are people doing to stop you?
Rn- There are long and short term tests to try to detect me. They are very expensive. The most affective way is to install a ventilation duct to draw air from beneath the basement to the outside.
O- What other problems have you caused?
Rn- Twenty years ago a PA worker from a power plant set off the plant's radiation monitor. It wasn't from the plant, but from radon in the man's home.
O- Thanks for the interview Radon. Try to stay out of trouble!
