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Polonium occurs naturally in the environment. Airborne radon decays into polonium isotopes that can be deposited on terrain and vegetation, for example, on tobacco leaves.
How does radon decay into polonium?
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas, a radioactive byproduct of radium. It is part of the natural radioactive decay series starting with uranium-238. It is radioactive with a half-life of 3.8 days, decaying by the emission of alpha particles to polonium, bismuth, and lead in successive steps.
Does radon decay to polonium 218?
Polonium-218 and lead- 214 are decay products of radon-222. The final isotope, lead-206, is stable (non-radioactive) and its formation ends the series.
Does radium decay into polonium?
Polonium, initially called “Radium F”, is a decay product of radium in the uranium decay chain. It can be made commercially by bombarding bismuth-209 with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. This forms bismuth-210 which has a half-life of 5 days. Bismuth-210 decays to polonium-210 through a beta decay.
What type of decay does radon undergo?
radioactive decay Radon undergoes radioactive decay, when it releases ionizing radiation and forms “daughter” elements, known as decay products. It is the release of radiation from this decay process that leads to exposure and health risks from radon.
What does radon break down into?
Radon breaks down into solid radioactive elements called radon progeny (such as polonium-218, polonium-214, and lead-214). Radon progeny can attach to dust and other particles and can be breathed into the lungs.
What is the decay reaction of radon?
Radon radioactively decays to produce radioactive isotopes of polonium, bismuth, and lead. These decay products are solids and cannot be exhaled once inside the body. Outside of the body these decay products can stick to surfaces such as dust particles in the air.
What does radium decay into?
Radium-226 decays by alpha particle radiation to an inert gas, radon-222, which also decays by alpha particle radiation. Due to the short half-life of radon -222, 3.8 days, there is a high probability it will decay in the body when breathed in, emitting alpha particle radiation in the body.
What are decay products of radium?
Radium-226 Decay Chain: Radium-226 (1600 year half life) yields an alpha particle and Radon-222; Radon-222 (3.82 day half life) yields an alpha particle and Polonium-218; Polonium-218 (3.05 minute half life) yields an alpha particle and Lead-214; Lead-214 (26.8 minute half life) yields a beta particle and Bismuth-214; …
How fast does radon decay?
Explain that each radioactive element has a half-life. Half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay into a more stable form. In the decay chain, students can see that radon has a half-life of 3.8 days. Polonium-218 has a half-life of 3 minutes.
