Radon
RAY-don
Radon (Rn) is a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas non-metal that has the atomic number 86 in the periodic table in Group 18. It has the symbol Rn.
Radon is a chemical element that is a radioactive gas.It occurs naturally in small amounts due to radioactive decay of thorium and uranium. It has a half life of 3.8 days and is very rare as it decays at a quick rate. Uranium and Thorium are very abundant radioactive elements so Radon is consistently being created. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking due to its emission of alpha particles that when breathed in can cause a large amount of damage. Radon is one of the biggest contributors to background radiation experienced by humans on earth. Radon was discovered in 1889 by Ernest Rutherford and Robert Owens. It is used in radiation therapy and also in nuclear reactors. It is a non metallic gas at room temperature and it has a melting point of -71°c and a boiling point of -61°c.
FAQ's
Fredrich Ernst Dorn
1898
Uses
Used to treat some forms of cancer.
Sources
Formed from the decay of radium in the earths crust.
About the author
Nathan M
Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.
Citation
Rn
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