Element 86

Radon (Rn)

Noble gas · Period 6 · Group 18 · p-block

Radon (Rn) is element 86 of the periodic table, a noble gas in period 6, group 18 (p-block) with an atomic mass of 222 and is a gas at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
86
Symbol
Rn
Atomic mass
222 u
Category
Noble gases
Period
6
Group
18
Block
p-block
Phase at STP
gas

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p6
Shorthand configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p6
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 8
Oxidation states
0, +2, +6

Physical properties

Melting point
202 K
Boiling point
211.3 K
Density
0.00973 g/cm3
Phase
gas

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
2.2
Atomic radius
120 pm
Covalent radius
150 pm
Van der Waals radius
220 pm
First ionization energy
1037 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
0 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Rn-222222.01758Half-life 3.8 days

Common uses

  • Cancer treatment
  • Earthquake prediction research
  • Radiation studies

Discovery

Year
1900
Discovered by
Friedrich Ernst Dorn
Country
Germany

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