Radon (Rn)
| Atomic Number | 86 |
|---|---|
| Atomic Mass | 222 u |
| Category | Noble gas |
| Electron Config | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶ |
| Appearance | colorless gas, occasionally glows green or red in discharge tubes |
| Density (STP) | 9.73 g/L |
| Melting Point | 202 K |
| Boiling Point | 211.5 K |
| Electronegativity | 2.2 (Pauling) |
| Ionization Energy | 1037 kJ/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 120 pm |
| Crystal Structure | Face-centered Cubic |
| Discovered By | Friedrich Ernst Dorn (1900) |
Brief Introduction
Radon (Rn) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive noble gas. It is formed by the radioactive decay of radium. Key details about Radon (Rn) are as follows:
Uses: Historically used in cancer treatment (radiotherapy) and for leak detection. Used in hydrology to track groundwater movement. Main application today is incidental: as a health hazard to be mitigated.
Production/Extraction: Produced naturally from the decay of uranium and radium in soil and rocks. Can be isolated from gases emanating from radium compounds.
History: Discovered in 1900 by Friedrich Ernst Dorn. Named niton originally; renamed radon in 1923 due to its origin from radium.
Health Effects & Safety: Significant health hazard. Radon accumulation in buildings (from soil/rock foundation) is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Alpha emitter.
Price/Market: Not a commercial product in the traditional sense. Calibration standards are sold for scientific use.
Properties: Colorless noble gas, radioactive, densest gas at standard conditions, chemically inert forming only a few fluorides, soluble in water and organic solvents.
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