Radon

Radon

Symbol	Rn
Atomic Number	86
Atomic Mass	222 g.mol −1
Discovered by	Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900

Chemical Properties of Radon

What is Radon?

• Radon was first detected as an emission from the radioactive decay of radium.
• It has an atomic number of 86 and represented with the symbol Rn in the periodic table.
• Radon is available in hot springs and some spring water.  Its concentration is commonly measured in becquerel ( Bq ) per cubic meter.
• In the air, its concentration varies from 1 to 100 Bq per cubic meter. In some places, well water will be rich in Radon. Even rainwater can be extremely radioactive due to the high concentration of the element.

Physical properties of Radon

• Radon (Rn) is colourless, tasteless, odourless gas at standard pressure and temperature and it is the densest noble gas.
• At a temperature below its freezing point, it possesses a brilliant yellow phosphorescence.
• It is highly radioactive and chemically unreactive.

Applications and effects of Radon

• Scientific:
  • Radon is used to track air masses to a limited level.
  • Changes in groundwater radon concentrations help in the prediction of Earthquake.
  • In the 1940’s radon is used X-ray sources and for industrial radiography.
• Medical:
  • A process called Radon hormesis is used to mitigate auto-immune diseases like arthritis.
  • It is used in the treatment of cell damage and cancer.
  • Radon is also used in radiation therapy.

Health effects of Radon

• Radon occurs mainly in gaseous state and people are mainly exposed to it through breathing air. Exposure to the element through breathing may cause lung disease.
• The best thing about radon is it will not have harmful effects without actual contact with it.