Radon Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts

Properties Uses and Facts about Radon Gas

What is Radon

Radon is classified as a nonmetal. Radon is a noble gas, and chemically it is an element. Radon has the symbol Rn, atomic number 86 and atomic mass 222 amu. An atom of radon has 86 electrons, 86 protons, 136 neutrons and 6 energy levels. In the Periodic Table, radon is located in Group 18, Period 6 and Block (P). Radon has a density of 9.73 grams per 1000 cubic centimeters. Radon is found in the gaseous state at room temperature. Its melting point is -71 °C (-96 °F), and its boiling point is -61.7 °C (-79.1 °F).

Radon was discovered by the German chemist Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900.

Radon-Gas-Properties-Uses-and-Facts

Properties of Radon Gas

• Radon is a chemically inert gas.
• Radon is a colorless and odorless gas.
• Radon is a radioactive gas.
• Radon gas is found in solid state at a temperature less than minus 71 degree Celsius. In the solid state, radon gas glows yellow. With a further decrease in temperature, its glow becomes orange-red.
• Radon reacts with fluorine to form a single compound called radon fluoride (RnF).
• Radon gas is soluble in water.

Uses of Radon Gas

• After radon decays, it turns into radioactive polonium and alpha particles. Because of this emitted radiation, radon is used in cancer therapy.
• Radon is used in hydrologic research.
• Radon is used in geological research to track air masses.
• Radon is used to predict earthquakes.

Interesting facts about Radon gas

• Naturally radon gas is produced by the decay of radium-226 and uranium found in rocks.
• Radon is the heaviest of all gaseous elements, about 7.5 times heavier than ordinary air.
• Radon gas is a colorless liquid in the liquid state, while in the solid state it glows yellow, its glow is due to the excessive radiation present in it.
• Uranium is found widely in the Earth's crust, and it can be present in trace amounts under any house or building. Radon gas is produced by the decay of uranium itself, so there can be leakage of radon gas in the basements of houses or buildings, it being a heavy gas, it can collect in the basements. Radon levels in many homes can be several times higher than normal. Radon is a radioactive gas, breathing in which destroys lung cells and increases the chances of lung cancer manifold. Therefore, proper arrangements should be made for the exchange of fresh air in any basement, so that if radon gas is leaking, it cannot accumulate and this gas continues to come out.
• Radon gas is considered the second biggest cause of lung cancer after cigarettes.

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