Radon

86

Rn

(222)
  • Name: Radon
  • Symbol: Rn
  • Atomic number: 86
  • Atomic weight: (222)
  • CAS Registry ID: 10043-92-2
  • Group name: Noble gas
  • Period number: 6
  • Block: p-block
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Description

Radon is an odorless, colorless, noble gas in its natural state. It is one of the heaviest gases known, and it is toxic and known to produce lung cancer in people. Radon as an atomic weight of 222, a melting point of - 96 °F, and a boiling point of - 79.1 °F. Radon does not have many commercial uses as it is so toxic. However there are some uses of radon and these include: in hydrologic research, geologic studies, and atmospheric studies.

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Isolation

Radon naturally occurs in the Earth’s crust and emanates from the ground in its gaseous form and in the water in some hot springs. It may be isolated or created.

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Radon is present in the Earth’s crust and atmosphere once it escapes the crust barrier. Radon present in the atmosphere in minute amounts could technically be collected as a by-product from the liquefaction and separation of the air. In this process, the air is captured and heated until it becomes a liquid. Fractional distillation procedures are then used to separate out the different components. While this process could theoretically be used to isolate radon it has not yet been used as a source of radon. Only minute amounts of radon are needed for its current purposes, and most of it is collected through reactions that occur in nuclear power plants. The radon produced in this method is collected into cooled water from which it is extracted and isolated. It is then brought into a holding take where it decays, (its half life is only around 4 days), and in this safe reduced form it is released into the atmosphere.
General
Name Radon
Symbol Rn
Number 86
Chemical series noble gases
Group 18
Period 6
Block p
Appearance colorless
Standard atomic weight (222)  g·mol−1
Electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p6
Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 8
Atomic properties
Crystal structure cubic face centered
Oxidation states 0
Electronegativity (scale Pauling)
Ionization energies 1st: 1037 kJ/mol
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Atomic radius 120  pm
Atomic radius (calc.)
Covalent radius 145  pm
Van der Waals radius
Physical properties
Phase gas
Density (near r.t.) (0 °C, 101.325 kPa) 9.73 g/L
Liquid density at m.p.
Melting point 202 K (−71.15 °C, −96 °F)
Boiling point 211.3 K (−61.85 °C, −79.1 °F)
Critical point 377 K, 6.28 MPa
Heat of fusion 3.247  kJ·mol−1
Heat of vaporization 18.10  kJ·mol−1
Heat capacity (25 °C) 20.786  J·mol−1·K−1
Miscellaneous
Magnetic ordering non-magnetic
Electrical resistivity
Thermal conductivity (300 K) 3.61 m W·m−1·K−1
Thermal expansion
Speed of sound (thin rod)
Young's modulus
Shear modulus
Bulk modulus
Poisson ratio
Mohs hardness
Vickers hardness
Brinell hardness
CAS registry number 10043-92-2

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