Polonium facts for kids
Polonium is a very rare chemical element that is also radioactive. It is a type of metalloid, which means it has properties of both metals and nonmetals. Polonium is element number 84 on the periodic table, and its symbol is Po. It was first discovered in 1898 by the famous scientists Marie and Pierre Curie.
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What is Polonium Like?
Polonium is a very unstable element. This means it changes quickly into other elements by giving off radiation. It is also very toxic, which means it can be harmful or even deadly. Because of these dangers, polonium is very difficult and risky to handle. Even a tiny amount can be dangerous. For example, just one gram of polonium can get as hot as 500 °C (932 °F) all by itself! It also turns into a vapor (like steam) very easily.
Where Does Polonium Come From?
Polonium is extremely rare in nature. This is because it has a very short half-life. A half-life is the time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to break down. Since polonium breaks down quickly, there isn't much of it around. It is a natural product that forms when uranium breaks down. So, you can find tiny amounts of polonium in uranium ores, which are rocks that contain uranium.
Polonium's Many Forms
Polonium has 33 different forms, which are called isotopes. All of these isotopes are radioactive. This means they all give off radiation as they break down.
Why is Polonium Dangerous?
Because polonium is so radioactive and toxic, it can be very harmful to living things. A very small amount of polonium was once used in a way that caused great harm to a person, showing just how dangerous this element can be. This is why polonium must be handled with extreme care and only by trained experts.
See also
In Spanish: Polonio para niños
