Element 84
Polonium
Post-transition metals
Polonium (Po) is in the p-block of the periodic table — group 16, period 6.
Polonium is a chemical element with symbol Po and atomic number 84, discovered in 1898 by Marie Curie and Pierre Curie.
Key data
- Atomic number
- 84
- Atomic mass
- 209.000 u
- Group / Period
- 16 / 6
- Block
- p-block
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Density
- 9.196 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 253.9 °C
- Boiling point
- 961.9 °C
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4
Periodic table block
Polonium is in the p-block (group 16, period 6). Elements land in the p-block when their highest-energy electrons fill a p subshell — this region holds most nonmetals, the metalloids, and the metals on the right of the table.
New to this? Periodic table blocks explained: s, p, d, and f
Common uses
- •Anti-static brushes
- •Heat sources for satellites
- •Highly radioactive
Discovery
Year: 1898
Discovered by: Pierre Curie
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic number of Polonium?
Polonium has atomic number 84. Its symbol is Po and its atomic mass is 209 u.
What category of element is Polonium?
Polonium is classified as post-transition metals. It sits in group 16, period 6 of the periodic table.
What block of the periodic table is Polonium in?
Polonium is in the p-block (group 16, period 6). Its highest-energy electrons occupy the p subshell — you can see this in its electron configuration, [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4.
What is Polonium used for?
Common uses of Polonium include: Anti-static brushes, Heat sources for satellites, Highly radioactive.
When was Polonium discovered?
Polonium was discovered in 1898 by Pierre Curie.
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