7f6 9cb dce e7a 59a 160 fc1 b23 0f9 6ba c63 a93 9b4 03f d4d 2d3 3a7 1c3 772 11f adf cb0 6b7 ee3 23a c2b 4a3 52c abb 382 24d 968 ac7 8ac 7d3 80e b64 c54 0d3 93c 806 f53 42d 805 0fd 729 c60 1b6 8a9 800 379 69b b50 0b8 bd3 734 9aa 7c7 441 81d 7f1 792 00f c0e 1cc f10 5b0 2f2 49e 4b9 aad 2d4 2b4 eda e2b f30 c84 9c2 145 1df ecc 7eb 299 efb acc 1bc b0d bc5 114 500 f0b 16d 378 35b c1e 69b 8cc 0d9 e86 bc7
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.
