Chemical Properties
radioactive solid; α-emitter; resistivity (0°C) 44 μohm· cm; chemical behavior resembles Te, Bi; coexists with α-form over temp range 18°C–54°C; electronegativity 1.76 [MER06] [COT88]
History
This radioactive metal was also known as radium-F. The name of Polonium derives from “Poland”, the native country of Marie Sklodowska Curie. It was discovered by Marie Curie (Paris, France) in 1898, from its radioactivity. It was independently found by the German chemist Willy Marckwald in 1902 and called radiotellurium. The longest halflife associated with this unstable element is 102 year 209Po.
Definition
ChEBI: A radioactive metallic element discovered in 1898 by Marie Sklodowska Curie and named after her home country, Poland (Latin Polonia).
