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Polonium

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Encyclopedia of Geochemistry

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

FormalPara Element Data

Atomic symbol: Po.

Atomic number: 84.

Atomic weight: (209).

Isotopes and abundances: traces of 210Po, 211Po, 216Po, 218Po.

1 atm melting point: 527 K.

1 atm boiling point: 1235 K.

Common valences: +6, +4, +2, −2.

Ionic radii: (+IV) 65, (−II) 230 ppm.

Pauling electronegativity: 2.0.

First ionization potential: 8.41 eV.

Chondritic (CI) abundance:

Silicate Earth abundance:

Crustal abundance: traces in uranium ores.

Seawater abundance:

Core abundance:

Properties

Polonium is a reactive, silvery-gray, extremely rare radioactive semimetal (Emsley, 1991, 2001). It dissolves in dilute acids but is only slightly soluble in alkaline solutions. The solution formed by dissolving polonium in acids has a pink color, the color of the Po2+ ion, and it rapidly turns yellow as α-radiation forms oxidizing species in aqueous solution that convert Po2+ to Po4+. Polonium has a relatively high vapor pressure for a solid element as about half of a sample of polonium will evaporate...

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References

  • Emsley J (1991) The elements, 2nd edn. Clarendon Press, Oxford

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  • Emsley J (2001) Nature’s building blocks an A-Z guide to the elements. Oxford University Press, Oxford

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  • Rubin KH, Macdougall JD, Perfit MR (1994) 210Po-210Pb dating of recent volcanic eruptions on the sea floor. Nature 368:841–844

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Al, 35487-0336, USA

    Monica Vasiliu & David A. Dixon

Authors
  1. Monica Vasiliu
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  2. David A. Dixon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monica Vasiliu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth, Cornell University Department of Earth, Ithaca, New York, USA

    William M. White

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Vasiliu, M., Dixon, D.A. (2017). Polonium. In: White, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39193-9_1-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39193-9_1-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39193-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39193-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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