Polonium Chemical Properties (25 Facts You Should Know)

Po or Polonium is a post-transition metal element, rare and extremely radioactive in nature with zero stable isotopes. Let us explain Polonium in detail.

Po is a chalcogen element belong to the same group of Oxygen. It has quite similar properties with lighter congeners like Selenium and Tellurium. It is similar to neighborhood metal elements like thallium and lead.

In this article, let us discuss some of the chemical properties of Polonium, such as melting point, boiling point, atomic number, etc.

1. Polonium symbol

Symbols are used to express the element by using one or two letters of the English or Latin alphabet of the chemical name. Let us predict the atomic symbol of Polonium.

The atomic symbol of Polonium is “Po” which comes from the English alphabet. As P is taken for Phosphorus in group 15 so ,we use “Po” instead of P for the abbreviation of polonium as an atomic symbol.

2. Polonium group in the periodic table

Vertical lines or columns in the periodic table are referred to as respective group of the periodic table. Let us predict the group of Polonium in the periodic table.

The group of Polonium in the periodic table is 16 because it is a chalcogen metal. So, it is placed in the 16th group as an element. In the Mendeleev periodic table, it is group 16 but in the modern table, it is placed as the VIA group as per the precipitation table.

3. Polonium period in the periodic table

A horizontal line or row of the periodic table where every element is placed by its last principle quantum number is called a period. Let us predict the period of Polonium.

Polonium belongs to period 6 in the periodic table because it has more than 54 electrons in the valence shell. Up to period 5, there will be 54^th elements that are well placed, so the remaining 30 electrons get the 6^th period after the lanthanide series along with the post-transition element.

4. Polonium block in the periodic table

The orbital where the valence electrons of the element are present is called the block of the periodic table. Let us predict the block of Polonium.

Polonium is a p-block element because the valence electrons are present in the p orbital. Po also has s, d and f orbitals but the outermost electrons are present in the 6p orbital according to the Aufbau principle.

5. Polonium atomic number

The value of Z, known as the atomic number, is the total number of electrons. Let us find the atomic number of Polonium.

The atomic number of Polonium is 84, which means it has 115 protons because the number of protons is always equal to the number of electrons. For this reason, they become neutral due to the neutralization of equal and opposite charges.

6. Polonium atomic Weight

The mass of the element is called weight which is measured concerning some standard value. Let us calculate the atomic weight of Polonium.

The atomic weight of Polonium is 209 on the ¹²C scale which means the weight of Polonium is the 209/12^th part of the weight of the carbon element. The original atomic weight of Polonium is 209.12, it is because the atomic weight is the average weight of all the isotopes of the element.

7. Polonium Electronegativity according to Pauling

Pauling electronegativity is the power to attract any other element for that particular atom. Let us predict the electronegativity of Polonium.

The electronegativity of Polonium is 2 according to the Pauling scale, which means it is electronegative in nature and can attract electrons toward itself.

8. Polonium atomic Density

The number of atoms present per unit volume of any atom is called the atomic density of that respective element. Let us calculate the atomic density of Polonium.

The atomic density of Polonium is 9.4 g/cm³ which can be calculated by dividing the mass of Polonium with its volume. Atomic density means the number of atoms present per unit volume but the atomic number is the number of electrons present in the valence and inner orbital.

• Density is calculated by the formula, atomic density = atomic mass / atomic volume.
• The atomic mass or weight of Polonium is 289 g
• The volume of the Polonium molecule is 22.4 liter at STP as per Avogardo’s calculation
• So, the atomic density of Polonium is, 209/ (22.4) = 9.33 g/cm³

9. Polonium melting point

Changing to a liquid state from its solid state at a particular temperature is called the melting point of that particular element. Let us find the melting point of Polonium.

The melting point of Polonium is 253.8⁰ C or 526 K temperature because at room temperature, Polonium exists as a solid and is radioactive. It needs less energy to melt the crystal into a liquid. By increasing the temperature, the elements can be placed in good arrangement.

10. Polonium boiling point

The boiling point is the point when the vapor pressure of an element becomes equal to its atmospheric pressure. Let us find the boiling point of Polonium.

The boiling point of Polonium is 962⁰ C or 1235K because it exists in solid form at room temperature and also it is a post-transition metal element.

11. Polonium Van der Waals radius

Van der Waal’s radius is the imaginary measurement between two atoms where they are not bound ionically or covalently. Let us find Van der Waal’s radius of Polonium.

The Van der Waal’s radius of Polonium is 200 pm because Po has 6s and a filled 3d, 4f orbital so it has a very poor screening effect. For this reason, the nucleus attraction force for the outermost orbital increases, and this decreases the radius.

• Van der Waal’s radius is calculated by the mathematical formula considering the distance between two atoms, where atoms are spherical in shape.
• Van der Waal’s radius is, R_v = d_A-A / 2
• Where R_V stands for Van Waal’s radius of the molecule of spherical shape
• d_A-A is the distance between two adjacent spheres of the atomic molecule or the summation of a radius of two atoms.

12. Polonium ionic radius

The summation of cation and anion is called the ionic radius of the element. Let us find the ionic radius of Polonium.

The ionic radius of Polonium is 200 pm which is the same as the covalent radius because for Polonium the cation and anion are the same and it is not an ionic molecule. Rather, it forms by the covalent interaction between two Polonium atoms.

13. Polonium isotopes

Elements having the same number of electrons but different mass numbers are called isotopes of the original element. Let us discuss the isotopes of Polonium.

Polonium has 66 isotopes based on their neutron number which are listed below:

• ¹⁸⁶Po
• ¹⁸⁷Po
• ^187mPo
• ¹⁸⁸Po
• ¹⁸⁹Po
• ¹⁹⁰Po
• ¹⁹¹Po
• ^191mPo
• ¹⁹²Po
• ^192mPo
• ¹⁹³Po
• ^193mPo
• ¹⁹⁴Po
• ^194mPo
• ¹⁹⁵Po
• ^195mPo
• ¹⁹⁶Po
• ^196mPo
• ¹⁹⁷Po
• ^197mPo
• ¹⁹⁸Po
• ^198m1Po
• ^198m2Po
• ¹⁹⁹Po
• ^199mPo
• ²⁰⁰Po
• ²⁰¹Po
• ^201mPo
• ²⁰²Po
• ^202mPo
• ²⁰³Po
• ^203m1Po
• ^203m2Po
• ²⁰⁴Po
• ²⁰⁵Po
• ^205m1Po
• ^205m2Po
• ^205m3Po
• ^205m4Po
• ²⁰⁶Po
• ^206m1Po
• ^206m2Po
• ²⁰⁷Po
• ^207m1Po
• ^207m2Po
• ^207m3Po
• ²⁰⁸Po
• ²⁰⁹Po
• ²¹⁰Po
• ^210mPo
• ²¹¹Po
• ^211m1Po
• ^211m2Po
• ^211m3Po
• ²¹²Po
• ^212mPo
• ²¹³Po
• ²¹⁴Po
• ²¹⁵Po
• ²¹⁶Po
• ²¹⁷Po
• ²¹⁸Po
• ²¹⁹Po
• ²²⁰Po
• ²²¹Po
• ²²²Po

Stable isotopes are discussed in the below section of Polonium:

Isotope	Natural Abundance	Half-life	Emitting particles	No. of Neutron
208Po	Synthetic	2.898 y	α, β	124
209Po	Synthetic	125.2 y	α, €	125
210Po	trace	138.76 d	α	126

Only three isotopes are stable among 66 isotopes of Polonium, those isotopes are also radioactive and the first two are synthetically prepared and the last one naturally occurs.

14. Polonium electronic shell

The shell surrounding the nucleus as per principal quantum number and holding the electrons is called an electronic shell. Let us discuss the electronic shell of Polonium.

The electronic shell distribution of Polonium is 2 8 18 32 18 6 because it has s, p, d, and f orbitals around the nucleus. Since it has more than 56 electrons and to arrange 84 electrons, it needs 1s,2s,2p,3s,3p,3d,4s,4p,4d,4f,5s,5p,5d,6s,6p orbitals.

15. Polonium electron configurations

The electronic configuration is an arrangement of the electrons in available orbital by considering Hund’s rule. Let us discuss the electronic configuration of Polonium.

The electronic configuration of Polonium is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶  3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁴ because it has 115 electrons and those electrons should be placed to the nearest orbital of the nucleus s, p, d, and f orbitals and for the 1^st,2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th,5^th, 6^th orbitals.

• Due to exchange energy, electrons enter first in 6s orbital then 5d.
• Where the first number stands for the principal quantum number
• The letter is for orbital and the suffix number is the number of electrons.
• But many elements have more principal quantum numbers depending on the number of electrons.
• Xe has 54 electrons, so the remaining electrons are present after the noble gas configuration.
• So, it is denoted as [Xe]4f¹⁴5d¹⁰6s²6p⁴.

16. Polonium energy of first ionization

First I.E. is the energy required for the removal of an electron from the valence orbital of its zero oxidation state. Let us predict the first ionization of Polonium.

The first ionization value for Po is 812 KJ/mol because the electron was removed from the filled 6p orbital. the removal of the first electron Po gets extra stability as it gets a half-filled configuration. Although the presence of 6s and 4f orbital but the first ionization energy of Po is very low.

17. Polonium energy of second ionization

The second I.E. is the energy required for the removal of one electron from the available orbital from the +1 oxidation state. Let us see the second ionization energy of Polonium.

The 2^nd ionization energy of Polonium is 1840 KJ/mol because, in the 2^nd ionization, electrons are removed from the half-filled 6p orbital. Upon 2^nd ionization, Po lost its stability. So the process is unfavorable and for this reason, 2^nd ionization is almost double of first I.E.

18. Polonium energy of third ionization

Removal of the third electron from the outermost or pre-ultimate orbital of an element having a +2 oxidation state is the third I.E. Let us predict the third I.E. of Polonium.

The third ionization energy for Po is 2780 KJ/mol because the third ionization occurs from 6p orbital and gets stabilization but the value is higher than expected because

• Po has a 6s orbital which is subject to relativistic contraction and for this, the nucleus attraction for the outer electrons will increases.
• Po has also 4f and 5d orbital which is subject to poor shielding effect and for this reason also, nucleus attraction force on the outer electrons will increase and the removal of the electron require a larger amount of energy.

19. Polonium oxidation states

During bond formation, the charge that appears on the element is called the oxidation state. Let us predict the oxidation state of Polonium.

Po has +2 and +4 stable oxidation states like other elements in group 16. Due to the inert pair effect, the electrons try to stay in the 6s orbital as paired form, so it cannot show hexavalent nature as the promotional energy from 6s to 6d is very high.

20. Polonium CAS number

CAS number or CAS registration for any element is used to identify the unique element. Let us know the CAS number of the Polonium.

The CAS number of the Polonium molecule is 7440-08-6, which is given by the chemical abstracts service.

21. Polonium Chem Spider ID

Chem Spider ID is the particular number given to a particular element by the Royal Society of Science to identify its character. Let us discuss it for Polonium.

The Chem Spider ID for Polonium is 4886608. By using this number, we can evaluate all the chemical data related to Polonium atom.

22. Polonium allotropic forms

Allotropes are elements or molecules with similar chemical properties but different physical properties. Let us discuss the allotropic form of Polonium.

• Polonium has two allotropic forms α and β – polonium, both metallic.
• α-polonium has a cubic crystal structure
• β – polonium has a rhombohedral crystal structure.
• At 360⁰, α polonium can be converted to β polonium.

23. Polonium chemical classification

Based on the chemical reactivity and nature, the elements are classified into some special class. Let us know the chemical classification of Polonium.

Polonium is classified into the following categories:

• Po is a post-transition chalcogen metal element
• Po is a transactinide metal
• Po is a strong radioactive synthetic element

24. Polonium state at room temperature

The physical state of an atom is the state at which an element exists at room temperature and standard pressure. Let us predict the state of Po at room temperature.

Polonium exists in a solid state at room temperature because it has higher Van der Waal’s interaction. In the crystal form, it adopts rhombohedral geometry so the atoms exist very close to each other. The randomness of the atom is very high at room temperature.

The solid state of Polonium can be changed to liquid at a very low temperature, where the randomness will be decreased for the Polonium atom.

25. Is Polonium paramagnetic?

Paramagnetism is the tendency of magnetization in the direction of the magnetic field. Let us see whether Polonium is paramagnetic or not.

Polonium is paramagnetic due to the presence of two unpaired electrons in the valence 6p orbital. Due to its high radioactive nature, we cannot predict the molar susceptibility of Polonium.

Conclusion

Polonium is a post-transition chalcogen metal element. Due to its strong radioactive nature, it cannot be used normally like other elements. It can be used as amphoteric oxide.