Polonium

Polonium's position on the periodic table.

Poloniumis a rareradioactivemetalloid.It ischemical element84 on theperiodic tableand its symbol isPo.It was discovered in 1898 byMarieandPierre Curie.

Polonium is highly unstable,radioactiveandtoxic.This makes it difficult to handle. It can be dangerous, even in very small amounts. One gram of Po will self-heat to a temperature of about 500 °C (932 °F). It alsovaporizeseasily.

Polonium has 33isotopes,and all of them are radioactive. It is a very rare element in nature because of its shorthalf-life.It is a breakdown product ofuranium,so it is found in uraniumores.

Polonium is also very important because it is the main element of nuclear bombs.