Who Really Discovered Radon?

Some interesting facts about radon include who discovered it, physical properties of radon, chemical properties of radon, where radon comes from, radons half-life, and what happens to radon.

SCIENTIFIC FACTS 

Radon (atomic number 86 and mass number 222) comes indirectly from the radioactive decay of uranium (atomic number 92 and mass number 238).  This happens through a series of steps in which one element decays into another element or decay product (daughter nuclei).  Eventually the decay product becomes a stable form of lead (not radioactive).  Radon is one of the decay products (daughter product) formed through this process.

Its melting point is 202 degrees K (-95.8 degrees F or -71 degrees C) and the boiling point is 211 degrees K (-79.6 degrees F or -62 degrees C). As a solid, it exhibits brilliant phosphorescence which becomes yellow as the temperature is lowered and orange-red at the temperature of liquid air.

Radon is about 8 times denser than air at STP.  The density of radon is 9.73 g/L at STP, while air has a density of 1.29 g/L at STP.

Radon is also fairly soluble in water and organic solvents. It is a noble gas being chemically inert (since it has an octet of electrons in its outer shell) except under special created environmental conditions. There are several isotopes of radon. Only radon-222 and radon-220 are found in significant concentrations in our environment.  Radon-222 makes up the greatest amount of radon in our environment.  Its half-life is 3.825 days.  Radon-222 that gets into our air results in the formation of the radon decay products or radioisotopes polonium, lead, and bismuth.  They vary in half-life from from .00015 seconds to 22 years.  These may rapidly attach to dust and other materials in the air which we may inhale.  The final decay product is a nonradioactive form of lead known as Lead-206.  Back to Radon Info Page or Back to FAQ'S