Atomic Properties of Rn
- Atomic Number of Rn
- 86
- Atomic Mass of Rn
- 222.0000 u
- Electron Configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p6
- Electronegativity
- 2.20
- Block
- p-block
- Group
- 18
- Period
- 6
Radon (Rn) is element 86 on the periodic table. Atomic mass of Rn: 222.0000 u. Rn is in period 6, group 18. Melting point of Rn: 202.00 K.Density of Rn: 0.01 g/cm³.
The invisible radioactive gas seeping into homes worldwide
No biological function. Radioactive decay products can damage lung tissue. Second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
Discovered by Fredrich Ernst Dorn in Germany, 1898
Name origin: Variation of the name of another element, radium.
Colorless radioactive gaseous element, belongs to the noble gases. Of the twenty known isotopes, the most stable is Rn-222 with a half-life of 3.8 days. Formed by the radioactive decay of Radium-226. Radon itself decays into Polonium. Used in radiotherapy. As a noble gas, it is effectively inert, though radon fluoride has been synthesized. First isolated in 1908 by Ramsey and Gray.
Radon has 0 naturally occurring isotopes, plus 3 notable radioactive isotopes.
| Isotope | Atomic Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-Life | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21186Rn (Rn-211)Radon-211 isotope | 210.9906011 | — | 14.6 hours | α, EC |
| 22086Rn (Rn-220)Radon-220 isotope | 220.0113941 | — | 55.6 seconds | α |
| 22286Rn (Rn-222)Radon-222 isotope | 222.0175782 | — | 3.82 days | α |
Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)
Isotopes of Radon have important real-world applications in science and industry.
222Rn has been used as a tool to date groundwater in combination with other isotopes or elemental ratios (i.e. helium/radon and xenon/radon amount ratios) [568], [574].
Used to treat some forms of cancer.
Formed from the decay of radium in Earth's crust. Seeps through soil into buildings.
Loading quiz...