How does polonium help the world?

Answer 1

Some applications of polonium:

- neutron source as a mixture polonium-beryllium (also used for nuclear weapons)

- elimination of the dust from the surface of materials

- elimination of the static electricity

- radioactive heat source

Answer 2

Uses of polonium:

- neutron source (polonium-beryllium source)

- in devices for the elimination of the static electricity

- in devices for the elimination of the dust

- initiator in nuclear weapons

- isotopic heat source

Answer 3

The discovery of polonium is part of the overall picture of the Periodic Table of Elements which allows us to understand chemistry on a very fundamental level. However the element itself has not proved to be all that useful. One isotope of polonium was recently used to poison a Russian expatriate living in England, for political reasons.

Answer 4

Polonium radioactivity was discovered in 1898 (uranium radioactivity in 1896, radium radioactivity also in 1898).

For applications polonium is not important: polonium-beryllium neutron sources, radioactive heat-source, devices for the elimination of dust from textiles, etc.

Answer 5

Some applications of polonium:

- neutron source as a mixture polonium-beryllium (also used for nuclear weapons)

- elimination of the dust from the surface of materials

- elimination of the static electricity

- radioactive heat source

Answer 6

Polonium is between the most poisonous materials; the LD5o for polonium-210 is 1 microgram.

Answer 7

The discovery of polonium confirmed the Mendeleev prediction of dvi-tellurium.