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What is Radon? Origin / Meaning of the name Radon
The name originates
from the Latin word 'nitens' meaning shining.
What is Radon? Periodic Table Group and Classification of the Radon Element
Elements can be classified based on their physical states (States
of Matter) e.g. gas, solid or liquid. This element is a gas. Radon
is classified
as an element in the 'Noble Gases' section which can be located in
group 18 of the Periodic Table. The term 'Noble gas' derives from
the Old High German word Edelgas from 'edili' meaning "noble".
The name 'noble gases' is an allusion to the old, similarly
termed 'Noble Metals'. The Noble Metals included
Gold,
Silver and
Platinum which were so called
due to their long association with the aristocracy.
Facts about the
Discovery and
History of the Radon
Element
Radon was discovered by
Friedrich Ernst Dorn
in 1900. William Ramsay and Robert Whytlaw-Gray isolated it and
gave it the name 'Niton' in 1910. It has been called Radon
since 1923.
Sir William Ramsay
(1852 - 1916)
Sir William Ramsay discovered the noble gases and received the
Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 "in recognition of his services
in the discovery of the inert gaseous elements in air". These
elements included
Argon,
Krypton, neon and Xenon. Ramsay also
isolated
Helium
which had been observed in the spectrum of the
sun but had not been found on earth. In 1910 Ramsay also made
and characterized radon.
Sir William Ramsay (1852 - 1916)
What is Radon? Occurrence of the Radon Element
One molecule of radon in 1 x 1021 molecules of air
Found in some spring waters and hot springs
Obtained from decay of radium
Abundances of the element in different environments
% in Universe N/A
% in Sun N/A
% in Meteorites N/A
% in Earth's Crust N/A
% in Oceans 6×10-20%
% in Humans N/A
Associated Uses of Radon
Treatment of cancer -
radiotherapy
Produce neutrons for research |
