Polonium: meaning, definitions and examples
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polonium
[ pəˈləʊnɪəm ]
chemical element
Polonium is a rare, radioactive metalloid element that is represented by the symbol Po and atomic number 84 on the periodic table. Discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre Curie in 1898, polonium is classified as a chalcogen and appears to be similar to tellurium and bismuth. It occurs naturally in trace amounts in uranium ores and is produced as a decay product of radon. Due to its high radioactivity and toxicity, polonium is primarily used in research applications and in devices that eliminate static electricity.
Examples of usage
- Polonium is used in anti-static devices.
- The detection of polonium in the environment requires specialized equipment.
- Polonium-210 is known for its applications in targeted alpha-particle therapy.
- Researchers studied the harmful effects of polonium exposure.
Translations
Translations of the word "polonium" in other languages:
🇵🇹 polônio
🇮🇳 पोलोनियम
🇩🇪 Polonium
🇮🇩 polonium
🇺🇦 полоній
🇵🇱 polon
🇯🇵 ポロニウム
🇫🇷 polonium
🇪🇸 polonio
🇹🇷 polonyum
🇰🇷 폴로늄
🇸🇦 بولونيوم
🇨🇿 polonium
🇸🇰 polónium
🇨🇳 钋
🇸🇮 polonij
🇮🇸 poloníum
🇰🇿 полоний
🇬🇪 პოლონიუმი
🇦🇿 polonium
🇲🇽 polonio
Etymology
The name 'polonium' is derived from 'Polonia', the Latin name for Poland, in honor of Marie Curie's homeland. The element was first identified by the Curies in their efforts to isolate radium from uranium ore. At the time of its discovery, polonium was understood to be a highly radioactive substance, which presented both scientific opportunity and significant risk. Its properties and behavior as a radioactive element made it a subject of interest in both chemistry and physics. Curie's research into polonium was part of her broader work on radioactivity, a term she coined herself, contributing to the foundational understanding of atomic structure and radioactive decay.